MADAM, THE pool is the property of the people of Leominster, given by Mr Sydney Bridges, and was supposed to be maintained by Leominster Council.

Why has this not been carried out? We have been cheated and to close it without warning is a scandal.

Its state cannot have been unknown to the council since I am aware of correspondence on this point dating back to at least June 2000.

The Kingfisher Club for whom I have been teaching swimming for the past 27 years, had they been given warning, could have explained to the 150 members, but instead we have had no opportunity to tell them or console them for their loss.

How, tell me, are we to keep our 54-year-old club going without a pool? How can we keep our pride in Leominster when we are treated in such a despicable way by our own council? What are the council prepared to do? Where can we find swimming time?

If we get a new pool, will it be worth bothering with? Our pool was large with good changing and spectator facilities and a sauna complex.

Will our children come back if they have gone to other pools at Ludlow and Tenbury (out of county) to swim?

For the last 27 years I have taught children of Shobdon C P School to swim. The National Curriculum says every child should be able to swim a length before they leave primary school? In the whole of this time no child has left this school without being able to swim.

I have a season ticket and swum one or two miles every week to keep myself fit. Where am I going to be able to do this without travelling in excess of 20 miles?

I, in common with many, many users of the pool feel very upset for all the excellent staff who ran the pool so capably, and very frustrated and hurt by the scandalous way the people of Leominster have been treated.

S J MUNDY (President Kingfisher Swimming Club),

Roselend,

Stoke Prior.