A public facility

YES, you guessed it! Henry Boot has again kicked the people of Weston in the stomach with further excuses for putting back the developing of the Tropicana. Surely it is now time North Somerset Council reconsiders the position.

It is no good the executive member throwing his hands in the air saying the economic position is to blame, when the owners of the Grand Pier are speedily getting on with the job of rebuilding the pier.

From comments in your paper it seems most people only want a pool with a sliding roof, or, if too costly, fixed roof. Grandiose ideas of a large hotel and cinema may be the only way a pool can become a viable business, but when in the 1930s the original pool was opened it was at the ratepayers' expense for the enjoyment of all citizens; in fact it was a public facility, like the library, police and fire services.

Looking at the redevelopment of Royal Crescent and Knightstone there are architects who can come up with plans to use the existing as a base to redesign the whole complex as a modern pool with cafeteria, cr�che, nursery, gymnasium, hair salon, dance studio, etc, all let out to help keep admission charges low. This would minimise cost, hence making financing easier and greatly reduce the time scale for completion. (Henry Boot did a similar project for Harrogate Hydro Swimming Centre financed by the council, but brand new!)

To think the �3million invested by the council in now blocked Iceland banks would have properly covered the cost is to put it mildly - most upsetting!

C J PEVERELLE

Edinburgh Place

Weston