YOUNG people in Highworth should be extremely grateful to the mayor, councillors and all those campaigners who are striving to retain its open air swimming facility (SA, Feb 4).

Contrast this with what is happening and has happened down the road in Swindon.

The council drummed up a feeble excuse to destroy the open air swimming pool at Coate Water which gave such pleasure to those of my generation. It also banned swimming in the lake with the spurious excuse that the water was contaminated.

Coate Water once boasted a variety of pleasure crafts for the enjoyment of Swindonians. These were destroyed in a storm because those responsible had failed to put them safely away.

The council should seek to reintroduce boating on Coate Water this coming summer for its young people .

FRANK AVENELL

Swindon