AS president of the Wear Valley Amateur Swimming Club, and a member for over 20 years, I was horrified to read (Echo, Feb 18) about Wear Valley District Council's plans for budget cuts for sport and the arts.

The swimming club has had a partnership with the council since 1991, which has been of great benefit to the children and families in the district, and has achieved international success in a district designated as a Sport Action Zone.

The council has been generous in its provision of pool-time - the most expensive item on any swimming club's list.

The swimming development officer, who is employed as chief coach to the club, is to be made redundant: this without any contact with, or reference to the club.

He has coached one of our members to a finalist place at 400 and 800 metres in the recent Commonwealth Games - one of only two swimmers in Northumberland and Durham to achieve England representation at the games, and the only one to reach the finals.

Another of our swimmers, only 15 years old, holds county, district and Great Britain records in the distance events, and has recently represented Great Britain juniors in Singapore and Australia.

The club is the present holder of the Top Age Group Club Trophy in the county. There are more than 150 competitive members of the club. What will happen to these children if the pools they train in close, or their water-time is drastically curtailed?

Sport is vital for the well-being of our young people. Swimming is a demanding and expensive discipline. It is a healthy, essential sport for the safety of our children. It is part of the National Curriculum.

If the club now loses its coach, much of its water-time and the support of the council, it will not be able to function - to the detriment of the families of Wear Valley. - Greta Foulds, president, Wear Valley Amateur Swimming Club, North Bitchburn, Crook.

I READ with dismay that Wear Valley council is thinking of closing Glenholme Leisure Centre, Crook, and Woodhouse Close Leisure Centre, as well as there being a threat to Wolsingham baths.

The council is thinking about one big complex instead of the three old ones. It has been examining this since 1999 - so what was the point of closing the Spectrum and moving equipment to Crook, and of closing Eastgate?

If the council knew this was going on, why did it put two portable buildings on the Glenholme complex to house the Spectrum equipment? I bet when the decision is taken to make one complex it will be at Bishop Auckland. People up the dale will have nothing for leisure, just like they have nothing for work.

Instead of being called Wear Valley District Council, why not call it Bishop Auckland DC, as everything is geared for Bishop? - B Alderson, Crook.

Spennymoor

AFTER reading the letter by Martin Jones, the Lib-Dems' environment spokesman (HAS, Jan 31), I wondered why a political party needing votes dislikes people and becomes obsessed with money.

He said"More houses mean more people and more people mean more council tax revenue."

Does he not realise that when Whitworth Park is developed it will mean more revenue and lower council tax because of the type of dwelling to be built?

Mr Jones should reflect on the fact that London, Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough were all originally villages on the banks of a river. Look at them today, through development and resettlement of population.

The irony is that part of their expansion happened under a Liberal government, but since the Lib-Dems were formed they have abandoned the history of their movement and embraced modernity.

The Lib-Dems want permanent level footpaths, no taxes, high grass, and butterflies fluttering all the year round. They forget the Earth moves, costs rise, and wildlife does go with the flow.

The people of Spennymoor have always been outward looking, which is why they have the most compact town centre in the North of England. The products they make are sold throughout the country and abroad. They are working towards a better future and won't object to a few more hands helping them to build a road to success. - Thomas Conlon, Spennymoor.