SIR – Whose interests are being given priority in the proposal to close four of our local swimming pools and build a new competition-standard pool in the city centre?

It would seem to be those of the people “from far and wide” rather than those of our local citizens.

Of what use is an eight-lane competition pool in the city centre for the young mother taking her three-year-old child to learn to swim or the arthritic pensioner who finds some welcome mobility in the water?

As regards older children, surely we should be encouraging our young people to take more part in sport and recreation, not withdrawing local facilities.

Not everyone can afford to subscribe to a local gym. Even Councillor Hawksworth must concede that for a lot of us “third class facilities” would be better than none!

Brenda J Pinchin, Moorland Crescent, Baildon