In your article on the city council budget (Oxford Mail, February 19), you report that Barton is to get a new fitness suite at the swimming pool.

It is true that the Lib Dems had proposed this.

It was something people in the local community wanted.

It would have provided the new pool with a much-needed and unique facility which local people could use.

It would have boosted the numbers using the centre, helping it to grow and serve more people.

Sadly, the Labour party did not feel the same. Apparently, according to one Labour councillor, it was "a facility that isn't needed".

Funny, that's not what local people have been telling me on the doorsteps.

Another Labour councillor appeared to be geographically challenged, stating that "there are enough gyms in the Cowley area".

What about Barton and the wider Headington area? The Labour leader explained to us that there was "a massive oversupply".

Really? So where in Barton can people access a low-cost gym?

I, and my Lib Dem colleagues, will continue to fight to get better facilities for Barton.

We know that's what people want, need and deserve. Labour clearly prefer to hike up council tax to unacceptable levels, hitting the poorest hardest, but refuse to support much-needed facilities.

Yet again Barton has been let down by Labour.

PATRICK MURRAY (Councillor) Liberal Democrat Barton & Sandhills ward Oxford City Council