Don't most councils provide good facilities to enable them to do this?

Then, how come our council has increased the price of a swimming session (a good all-round health and fitness activity!) and they've not yet completed repairs to the facility?

Yes, I know it was unfortunate that it had a fire but that was ages ago, and I suppose it will be the customer who has to pay for this in the long run. But how can it justify raising the costs before the refurbishment is completed, and when it is not providing its usual standard of amenity?

There are currently two small changing room areas at St James Pool – one male and one female.

To say it gets a little cramped is an understatement!

It has also only provided three temporary shower cubicles to service the whole site, and guess what? When I went for a swim recently, it had made all the car parks 24-hour payment. OK, it's only £1 from 6pm to 7am the next day, but I didn't want to stay in the pool that long. At my age, I'm prone to wrinkling!

So, looking at the bigger picture, I have a concessionary leisure card to enable me to keep fit and active so I am making the effort, but if I swim twice a week in the evening, it will cost me an extra 10p per week (£5.20 per year) and £104 per year extra to park for the privilege.

Still, not to worry, the pension has just risen by 25p per week so it can't be all bad, can it?

CHRISTINE HALL, St. Germans