CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save children's swimming pools from closure are pleading with city and county council chiefs to throw them a lifeline.

But in a letter to campaigners city council leader Stanley Henig appeared to rule out any extra public funds to keep the three pools at Heysham, Carnforth and Hornby open, and argued all campaigning should be directed at the county chiefs who are making the cut backs.

In a public statement however Cllr Henig seemed more positive.

He said: "The operation of the pools is obviously a matter for the education authority and the schools themselves. However, the city council is heavily involved in the promotion of swimming facilities in the district it would obviously, therefore, be sensible for the city council to meet with the county council, the schools concerned and other interested groups to see if we can mutually find a way forward."

Meanwhile Morecambe MP Geraldine Smith has taken up the cause of the campaigners. She's trying to bring together county senior officers with Cllr Henig and other city councillors. The LEA want the city council to take on some of the cost of running the three pools (about £50,000 each a year) because of cutbacks and because private swimming clubs, nothing to do with the LEA, use the pool.

Miss Smith commented: "I think the city council should look at their commitments to leisure in the area. If we're left with just Salt Ayre we will have lost a major public asset. The county's willing to pay for the education amount of money. I would be more than willing to act as a go-between between the two councils."

One mother fighting to save the pools is Suzanne Kelly who has helped organise hundreds of letters to both county and city councils in protest. She explained why she is so annoyed: "Normally I'm one of the quiet majority who sits back and lets things happen to be honest. But not this time. I want my six-year-old and all the other children to be able to learn how to swim. Salt Ayre is already packed. Aside from the private clubs that pool accommodates 1,250 children at Heysham school. I've had a letter back from Stanley Henig and the county council but both just basically say it get on to the other side and not bother them. Well we're not going to give up."

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