Campaigners for York's Barbican Pool have reacted with fury to a council newsletter which appears to hint it may be set for closure.

City of York Council leisure chiefs have been considering the possible closure of the Barbican and Yearsley pools as part of a major review of services.

In the latest edition of the council's York Citizen newsletter, leisure committee chairman, Coun Bob Scrase, says the authority must consider the bigger picture and get leisure services on a sounder future footing. Swimming has declined by a third since 1988 and urgent pool maintenance costs stand at £4 million.

Coun Scrase comments: "If we sold the Barbican Pool site, as it is separate to York Barbican Centre, then we may have more resources to improve other pools or even open a new pool somewhere. Whatever we decide, we will protect school swims."

Coun Scrase also says in the article: "I appreciate how strongly some people feel and I am taking careful note of the opinions being expressed.

"We have not yet finalised any plans because there is still a lot to be done on how we move forward leisure opportunities in a way that improves the range of provision and is realistic."

The reference to selling the pool site outraged Barbican Action Group member Dorothy Nicholson, who said: "We feel that has highlighted what we feel was the case anyway - that the one pool in real danger is the Barbican. The lack of consultation, from a council that wants to be a flagship for Tony Blair's New Labour and talk about accountability and consultation, just beggars belief."

Mrs Nicholson, and Fiona Evans of the Yearsley Action Group, are due to speak at a meeting of the leisure services committee tonight.

A plea from the heart

Barbara Gurney, cardiac rehabilitation nurse at York District Hospital, who is backing our Save Our Swim campaign.

Saving pools could help save a heart - that's the message from a specialist nurse who helps cardiac patients with their recoveries.

Barbara Gurney, cardiac rehabilitation nurse at York District Hospital, is supporting our Save our Swim campaign, saying any proposal to close pools would be short-sighted and the health of York citizens must be taken into account.

"As a profession we are supporting the whole idea of people exercising and trying to keep fit," she said.

She had two concerns about possible closures. "Firstly that the health and fitness of future generations will be affected by the lack of facilities in which to exercise - potentially more people in the future requiring cardiac rehabilitation following their heart attacks.

"Secondly that people recovering from a heart attack or heart surgery will have limited facilities where they can go locally to exercise.

"Research shows us that as a nation we are a fairly inactive bunch. We also know that being physically inactive is a major risk factor in the development of coronary artery disease. Exercise is good for the heart."

Barbara added that following a period of rest and recovery more vigorous exercise was encouraged for most heart patients. "As part of that long-term exercise plan I will often advocate swimming as an ideal form of exercise.

"Let's not forget that aqua-aerobics is another good form of exercise, especially if joints are feeling a little tender with advancing age.

"I fear that with the closure of Yearsley and the Barbican Pools both these excellent forms of exercise will be more difficult to access."

She pointed out people from the rural areas north of York could get easily to Yearsley Pool, while that at the Barbican was a central location and people who lived in inner cities often suffered heart disease.

Barbara, who runs "dry" fitness sessions at the hospital's physio-gym, said it was not long ago that the council turned down permission for the David Lloyd tennis centre at Monks Cross - "another lost opportunity for local people to exercise, get fit and stay fit".

If you wish to support the Evening Press Save Our Swim Campaign to protect both the Barbican and Yearsley Pools please write to us at: Evening Press Newsdesk, 76-86 Walmgate, York, YO1 9YN, or email us at newsdesk@ycp.co.uk

For more information on our campaign see Save Our Swim section

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