Sir – Oxford City Council’s scrutiny committee has agreed to demolish Temple Cowley Pools (TCPs), it said for the wider benefit of the citizens of Oxford: lower running costs — in closing TCPs, Oxford will have six lanes and a learner pool less; increased housing — 47 dwellings —  in already the most densely-occupied Oxford area; and £3.6m cash benefit to the city coffers.

It will mean Cowley residents will now have to go to Blackbird Leys to swim. It is similar to the council deciding to sell North Oxford’s Ferry Pool and telling the residents that they can now all go to the recently opened Barton pool in Headington, for the greater benefit of Oxford citizens.

TCPs have been designated as a Community Asset. Yes, for the long-term well-being of Cowley.

TCPs has seven schools in walking distance where children can learn to swim locally. Some 25,000 people have signed petitions to keep the pools open; what does “democracy” mean?

The council used that old trick of allowing TCPs to run down so that fewer people went.     The only diving pool in Oxfordshire was allowed to close.

SaveTCP have done its utter best to keep the pools open, with the council placing insuperable obstacles in its way.

What SaveTCP can do is raise money to replace TCPs, so that TCPs have a proper future, with low carbon emissions, and are economical to run, working with the council for the wider benefit of all Oxford citizens, who, if they knew what is being done in their name for short-term gain, would not allow it.      

I urge the council to rethink the future of Temple Cowley Pools.

Rosanne Bostock, Oxford