Madam, We spent an enjoyable two hours at Ross Swimming Pool last Sunday afternoon, watching our two young children attend a training session with Ross Swimming Club under the supervision of Mark Rose, GB Coach.

The standard of strokes, water discipline and confidence was outstanding. This is due to the training that the children have received from a young age by attending Ross Swimming Club.

This wonderful event was however tinged with disappointment by the potential constraints that are proposed to be imposed on the running of the Club by Halo Leisure after a review of their operations and the completion of a Consultation Report.

The Consultation Report attempts to offer feedback and outline opportunities to improve the profitability of Halo Leisure. The most significant symptoms of the proposed changes will be an alteration to the session times, a reduction in the amount of time and how Ross Swimming Club is allowed to use the pool.

The Report is biased in that the customer feedback has been pooled from existing customers and does not offer feedback from the potential customers, who would turn the projections into real opportunities and income. A principal argument has been that the Club uses the pool at peak times and will lose a Sunday morning. This is inconsistent with the arrangements at Ledbury Swimming pool.

Whilst it may be acceptable to adjust the timings, which is suitable for the majority of customers, the demands of Halo to stop the Swimming Club from 'teaching' young/non-swimmers is disgusting. This instruction relates to merely 12 children over one year and provides the first steps of starting what can be a fulfilling and rewarding swimming career. This surely does not impact on the 500 children per week that Halo claim to teach. If allowed to happen this will tear the heart out of the Swimming Club and deprive it of up and coming swimmers.

Our experiences of Halo swimming lessons were poor. Our children were left dithering on the poolside for 20 out of the 30 minutes. They were put into length swimming after three weeks with the teacher using a woggle as her only means of security. The end result was hopeless and a waste of £52 per child.

I call on the Local Authority to support the Swimming Club and stand up to these draconian requests from Halo. A Swimming Club plays an important role in the community, it provides exercise, purpose and friendship to the children and their families.

Let us not forget the hard work and commitment that the volunteers give in time, care and guidance. This is demonstrated by Trixie Pulsford receiving an MBE for her services. It is thanks to her (and her team of volunteers) that our children can also pursue a swimming career. It will guide them through their teenage years and give them purpose and exercise and who knows someone from Ross may make it to the 2012 Olympics.

Sarah Bainbridge, Weston under Penyard