I WRITE to you in dismay as to the apparent shape of things to come.

I note that Fife Council have cut their management fee to Fife Sport and Leisure Trust from £6m to a jaw dropping £2m.

The inevitable consequences are that this has impacted upon a vital facility, namely Bowhill Swimming Pool and Gym Facility.

Bowhill will see a reduction in hours, which apply to the morning sessions, which denies access by senior citizens, and mothers and toddlers in particular, learning how to swim at a suitable time when it does not impinge on their other children returning from school.

This in an age when keeping fit and active is reputedly a priority of all Councils, and publicly extolled and verbally encouraged.

There is little use in telling us to keep fit and active on the one hand when facilities such as this are restricted.

The old Indian saying "he who speaks with forked tongue" readily springs to mind.

Such draconian cuts will inevitably have their consequences, especially at a time when it is widely agreed that people are drifting into unhealthy lifestyles, resulting in obesity and ennui with a negatively consequent knock on effect on the NHS.

How we address the present will inevitably impact on the future. The Pool itself has a legacy in that it was constructed largely from the donations from local miners, contributing from their weekly wages and surely in this there is an added responsibility to the latter, who perhaps had a greater vision and sacrifice than that of our present Council.

Agreed there is a need for savings but these should surely go hand in hand with needs and planned priorities of our local communities which in this case those responsible failed miserably to even consult with local citizens and instead issued a curt notice of intent.

DAVID L THOMSON,

Laurence Park,

Kinglassie