I AM writing in regard to Ian Gibson's letter about his disappointing visit to the new leisure centre in Sidcup (Why Close Pool At Peak Times? News Shopper, May 21).

I have two daughters who both belong to swimming clubs. They train seven days a week and have done so for many years.

The hours they train are very unsociable. They get to bed late and get up extremely early in order to avoid upsetting the fair weathered, once a week, month or year public swimmer.

So Mr Gibson, the next time the snow is falling or the rain is lashing down and you do not feel like a swim, just remember every swimmer at every club is working hard at your pool to represent your borough, your county or even your country.

We all pay council tax and the clubs pay a very hefty fee to these public leisure centres.

If the centres relied solely on the paying public, there wouldn't be a pool to complain about.

LESLEY PORRITT, Mayplace Road East, Bexleyheath