THE loss of free swimming is just the start in how this Government will hit those who can least afford it.

The council’s executive member, Coun Ayre, has acknowledged that the scheme is very popular, yet “expensive compared to the benefit”.

We are not told how he measures any such benefit. Does he mean children and the over-60s are people not worth the benefits of free swimming?

Perhaps he means the benefits are not clear enough for his party or the coalition Government to see, as they can’t be measured by associated and immediate reductions in national health spending?

He takes a limited view of the benefits of free swimming, which has been a boon to many disadvantaged families on limited incomes in the city. It has also helped to make the council’s swimming pools more sustainable, so they will now come under more financial pressure.

Coun Ayre predictably falls into party line when reacting to any cut the coalition Government makes. If Labour’s free bus passes were next on the list, he would probably find a way of justifying that, too.

Coun Ken King, Clifton ward (Labour), York Road, Acomb.

•REFERRING to the letter in The Press on June 23, I didn’t think it would be long before it was mentioned about losing free swimming.

My friends and I were regular swimmers long before free swimming came into force, having used the Barbican and then the other pools, getting reduced rate being pensioners and having a York Card.

When free swimming was introduced, lots of people took it up and you could tell some had not swum for years.

It has cost the leisure services in York a lot of money, all the forms to fill, photos to be taken, passes to be made and given out and scanners to check. With all those children under 16 too, you can imagine the lost revenue.

Yearsley Baths does not open on Bank Holidays as they have to pay staff extra. I believe they have cut down on the heating of the pool also, because it is not as warm as it used to be. For us older ones, it is not good for our aches and pains and we can no longer swim as fast as we could to get warm.

Norma White, Maple Grove, Fulford Road, York.