DOROTHY Nicholson's suggestion (Letters, 1 March) that City of York Council is allowing pools to crumble could hardly be further from the truth.

Having listened to the views of the citizens of York, we've committed ourselves to maintaining swimming on all three sites and to improving the facilities there for customers. We've demonstrated this immediately with over £1m to refurbish Edmund Wilson pool. We're now aiming to attract private sector investment at the Barbican to improve that site and if possible to generate capital that can be used elsewhere.

The problems with the Barbican roof were a set-back. But we made alternative arrangements for all our users and these were well advertised. We are determined to get users back and we have looked at our prices again to help with this. We are also improving our fitness and children's play facilities.

For school swimming, the whole budget has been given to schools for them to spend.

We're committed to creating facilities of which the city can be proud. And we will do this in partnership with the private sector as well as in healthy competition. Closing down private leisure facilities, as Ms Nicholson suggests, can be in no one's interests.

Alan Jones,

Executive Member, Leisure & Heritage,

City of York Council.

Updated: 11:40 Monday, March 05, 2001