Sir – We were dismayed to read that the Labour-run city council is proposing the closure of Temple Cowley swimming pool.

This is a much-loved and well-used community facility, right in the middle of a major population centre of East Oxford; it’s easily accessible by public transport or on foot for thousands of local families.

The city should instead be encouraging its partner to keep Temple Cowley pool in a good condition — or replace it with a new facility in Cowley — and to improve facilities in Blackbird Leys.

Placing all its eggs in one basket, with a multi-million pound pool in Blackbird Leys, is short-sighted in the extreme, and smacks of an ambition to raise money from selling off the land Temple Cowley pool occupies.

We would urge your readers to join us in signing the online petition against closure: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Save TempleCowleySwimmingPool

Steve Goddard, Parliamentary Candidate Oxford East Liberal Democrats

Tony Brett, Ben Armstrong, Cowley Marsh Liberal Democrats