PATRICK Murray asks whether Labour can be trusted to build a gym at Barton Pool – something he failed to do in his time as a leading councillor.

The answer is yes. And why have we agreed to this request from the people of Barton? The answer is that by having a working relationship with Fusion, which is a registered charity, to run our leisure centres on a 10 year lease, we can actually find the money that the city council was not able to find on its own.

The Lib Dem plan was to build a gym in the dance studio at a cost of £90,000, which the city council did not have, and nor did the Lib Dems, as they allowed the council’s finances to spiral out of control.

The Labour plan, in conjunction with Fusion, is to extend the centre, build a new gym and keep the studio for community uses.

I hope this sets the record straight, and we look forward to a very active Barton Leisure Centre.

BOB TIMBS, Executive Board Member For Leisure and Sport, Oxford City Council