IN approximately 2009/10, Oaklands will have a better leisure centre, including a swimming pool of modest proportions, to share with the citizens of York, hopefully providing for swimming lessons (according to a head teacher).

The University of York will be almost double in size by 2009/10 and will have fabulous leisure facilities, including a full-size swimming pool to share with the citizens of York.

At present, there are about 11,000 students at the university; by 2010 there are likely to be 18-20,000 students. A small percentage of those using the pool could make it busy.

York citizens, who by then will have managed without the Barbican for nearly ten years, will have to decide whether to make a return journey of probably more than ten miles for a swim, and then may find it a bit crowded.

Of course, there is "a lot of water to pass under the bridge" before that time.

J Beisly, Osprey Close, Acomb, York.