AS a keen swimmer, I am all for the City of Oxford Swimming Club thriving and I understand that means having a decent venue.

However, the swimming club is not the only interested party in the future of Temple Cowley Pools. And, with a bit of imagination and creative thinking, it should surely not be difficult to find a solution which works for all parties.

This is what many people have been trying to do for some time, although any sort of discussion with the council has, to date, been nigh on impossible.

The proposal for a 50m pool has long been dropped, which leaves the way open for improving existing facilities to a level which suits the club. The two other drawbacks to the current site seem to be ones that mainly or solely affect swimming galas, namely parking and seating.

With regard to parking, many people think that high oil prices mean we will have to rethink our dependence on motor transport sooner rather than later. Thus building a facility, the main advantage of which is the amount of parking, is really not looking at the long-term.

Coaches currently use the business park for parking at galas. Even if they didn’t drop people off at the centre first, as I believe they do, is it too much for people pursuing a sport quite so actively to walk the short distance from the business park to the pool?

By the same token, using the car park at Templars Square should really not be too much of a problem. With regard to seating, surely this could be improved with a refurbishment – with all parties working together to meet the needs of all users?

Temple Cowley Pools (including its gym and sauna) are used by many individuals and organisations, and – like the pools at Barton, Blackbird Leys and Ferry – is a part of the community as well as being used by people who live outside its immediate area.

Important as the swimming club is, it cannot be right that its wishes are given such a huge priority over the needs of all other users and, indeed, over the environment.

Charlotte Barrow, Cowley, Oxford