Business at Bradford Council swimming pools and sports halls is taking a dip, while more people are using the council's fitness suites.

The big draw at the fitness suites are the "body pumps", a combination of aerobics and weights

Today Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, executive member for the environment, which includes sport and leisure, said: "I'm delighted people in the district are keeping fit, but I hope swimming isn't forgotten. In the interests of safety everyone in the district should be able to swim. It's also good exercise for older people."

Liberal Democrat councillor Howard Middleton, a member of the environment scrutiny committee, said the council had to respond to the needs of potential customers but swimming still produced a large income.

He added: "We need to ensure Bradford is on the cutting edge of the leisure industry as it prepares its bid to be European city of culture."

Former Labour leisure committee chairman Councillor Barry Thorne said the council needed to attract customers to the other centres by investment.

The switch to fitness is being discussed by councillors tonight as they examine the district's recreation services at the environment scrutiny committee meeting. The services get bouquets and brickbats from customers in a wide-ranging survey carried out by officers.

The officers will tell the committee that while there have been complaints about black plastic sacks being used as curtains for changing rooms, and occasional criticism of cleanliness, the staff generally were given top marks by the public.

Improvements over the last year have included CCTV at Keighley Leisure Centre, improvement to the sports hall floor at the Richard Dunn Sports Centre, and repairs at Manningham Sports Centre.

The survey involved 6,500 customers attending swimming development sessions. Research was also done at the other centres.

At Manningham Sports Centre there was concern about the deterioration of the swimming pool, cleaning was an occasional problem at Thornton pool, and staff awareness was "below the expected standard'' at Ilkley Lido.

Officer Tim Hirst says in the report that the results are encouraging in view of increasing competition from private companies.