Last updated 13:33, Thursday, 14 August 2008

IT has to be said, August 2008 isn’t a great time to be returning to the Hexham area after some months away, looking forward to a solid month of athletics and swimming.

I discover to my dismay that sporting life has ground to a halt in the town for the month of August – at the very time when all the schools are on holiday and the Olympics are in full flow.

I refer to the simultaneous closure of both the Wentworth Leisure Centre and Hexham Swimming Pool, for four and three weeks respectively. Is it not possible to co-ordinate things so that certain sporting amenities in the town remain open while others move?

For example, having lost all the indoor sports facilities at the Wentworth, we then lose use of the track at the same time.

And, in particular, ignorance demands to know why an old swimming pool can’t remain open until a new one is ready.

Does it really need three weeks for the pool to move house?

I could offer to take the flippers and paddles myself if that’ll help – shouldn’t take more than a couple of journeys.

It may be slightly too late, but here’s my alternative development plan, called the ‘minimal disruption proposal’.

Scenario: build new swimming pool adjacent to existing leisure centre. Proposal:keep existing leisure centre as it is. Open new pool on its opening day and close old pool the previous day. Night before opening – I move things from old pool to new pool on foot / by car. Result = leisure centre closed 0 days, pool closed 0 days.

In the meantime, please can I have my August back?

PETER SUNDERLAND,

Station Close,

Riding Mill