The children...

I am part of Ledbury and District Amateur Swimming Club, I train three times at week at the swimming pool Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7pm until 8.30pm. My younger brothers, aged 7 and 8, swim in the novice session three times a week, 5pm until 6pm. Annabelle my sister, aged 12, also swims in the same session as I do.

It has been announced the earlier session will cease on the July 2 which means there will no longer be any younger swimmers moving up into the later sessions.

We currently swim in competitions and many of the older swimmers, like myself, take part in county or even district events and represent Ledbury. Without these talented younger swimmers we will no longer have a team to take part in competitions as we do now.

I enjoy swimming and competing and doing well. If the club ceases then I would have nothing to do with much of my time, as currently much of my spare time is spent at the pool. Many others feel the same way.

We need help to save the future of our club.

Charlotte Wilce (aged 13), Bromyard Road, Ledbury.

The parent...

I AM the secretary at Ledbury Swimming Club but am writing this letter as a very worried mother of three young children. I am concerned about the proposed changes to the training times of young swimmers at Ledbury & District Amateur Swimming Club.

My family has lived in and around Ledbury for the last 11 years. I have three children aged 11, 8 and 6 who are members at the club. They have all derived huge benefit from it.

My eldest daughter has found swimming and training quite hard to master. She has received excellent tuition and gained in confidence and maturity. She now regularly swims in Ledbury's B squad. She has also enjoyed a training camp in France as well as all the other benefits being a member of a club brings. She currently trains at 5.30pm.

My middle daughter is regularly achieving county qualifying times despite being a year too young to compete. She swims regularly for the A squad. She thrives in the environment the club offers and has access to nothing comparable in her state primary school. She currently trains at 7pm.

My son has recently joined the club. His stroke technique and stamina are improving week on week. He trains at 5pm.

Children in state education are under huge pressure to rush through an enormous curriculum, there is little time left to concentrate on sport or fitness. We believe these things to be crucial in the healthy development of our children.

The training times proposed by Halo are unworkable by the club. The impact of later training times on our family would be disastrous.

My six-year-old son would have to train from 6.30pm to 7.30pm. His bedtime would therefore be around 8.30pm to 9pm, far too late for a child of his age.

My eight-year-old daughter would have to train from 8.30pm to 10pm. She loves swimming with a passion and trains regularly three times a week. These times would be disastrous for her welfare and education. The least affected would be my middle daughter, but the club would not be sustainable with this small group.

I have seen no evidence from Halo that there is huge public demand for public swimming from 5.30pm to 6.30pm each weekday. Losing these valuable training hours would force the club to close.

Children in our society come in for criticism for their behaviour, attitudes, poor academic progress, and obesity, drug taking - I fear the list goes on.

Please, please, please do not sit back and watch Ledbury Swimming Club die. There are far too few places offering children so many positives - fitness, how to win, how to lose, trying your best, commitment, confidence and fun, to name but a few.

I truly believe the next generation will be a reflection of the opportunities we've given them. It would be extremely selfish to deny them the opportunities that Ledbury Swimming Club offers.

SALLY CLARK, Loden Brook Close, Ledbury.

The councillor...

IT would appear that although Halo has offered an alternative schedule to the swimming club, they are totally unsuitable. These hours were, one feels, deliberately chosen by Halo in the knowledge that they were unsuitable.

Halo are sub-contracted by Hereford-shire Council so the decision must be with the council's agreement.

To do as Halo wish would mean the possible closure of LADSC with the loss of income to Halo of some £15,000 per annum and possibly more as LADSC have offered to increase its contribution and take on teaching lessons for beginners.

Can Halo be in such a strong financial position it can afford to turn away such business, especially when at the time, 5-6pm, it wants to bring the public in, most are travelling home from work or working.

One does feel there is a bigger picture with a completely different agenda attached somewhere regarding the actions of Halo in this matte but the real victims of this are the children in the LADSC.

Coun P J WATTS, New Street, Ledbury.

The sponsor...

I AM writing as a sponsor of the club and parent of four swimmers, to voice my concerns regarding the proposed changes by the Halo Leisure.

The changes will force the club to close. The times Halo are offering are not viable for the following reasons:

n 86 per cent of the swimmers are aged 11 and under and are too young to swim at 7-8am.

n It is inappropriate, as proposed by Halo, to ask 5-7 year olds to swim up to 7.30pm, 7-9 year olds to swim up to 8.30pm and 9-15 year olds to swim up to 10pm.

n The club is run predominantly by volunteers who cannot teach early in the mornings due to work commitments.

n The same volunteers cannot teach, and indeed some of the children cannot swim, at the weekend times that have been offered by Halo.

Please, help us save our club. Ledbury should be proud that children in their community want to swim, it will be a tragedy if such a thriving club folds.

One of my children said at the weekend: "Do they not know that if I can't swim for Ledbury it will break my heart?"

MARIE-CLAIRE PARSONS, The Homend, Ledbury.