I support the campaign to save Abingdon's open air pool from closure.

Jerry Patterson, leader of the Vale of White Horse District Council, said that the need to make expensive alterations in order to conform to the Disability Discrimination Act is one of the factors forcing closure (Oxford Mail, March 3).

This suggestion is not only blatantly unreasonable, but seems to show a misunderstanding of the Act. The guidance document for the Act has this to say:

"The following are some of the factors which might be taken into account when considering what is reasonable:

The extent to which it is practicable for the service provider to take the steps

The financial and other costs of making the adjustment

The extent of any disruption which taking the steps would cause."

It seems clear that if the cost of making the required adjustments would force the pool to close, they are neither practicable nor reasonable.

The council offers swimming at the nearby leisure centre. The guidance document also discusses this situation:

"A small retailer has two shops within close proximity to each other. At one of its shops, customers with mobility impairments cannot use all the services provided.

"The other shop can be easily reached by such customers and offers the same services, all of which are accessible to disabled people. The retailer .. is constrained by its limited resources.

"Therefore, for the present, it decides not to make all the services at the first shop accessible to customers with mobility impairments. In these circumstances, it is unlikely to be in breach of the Act."

Raising the Disability Discrimination Act in this context seems like a red herring. MICHAEL KOVARI, Clifton Drive, Abingdon