SWIMMERS in Queensbury angry at the closure of the village’s pool have been told to go to Halifax for their swimming - by the leader of Bradford Council.

People behind the campaign to save Queensbury Pool - which the Council announced last month would shut as part of budget cuts - said they were stunned by Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe’s suggestion that they go to neighbouring Calderdale instead.

Responding to campaigners in an email, to a question about access to pools by public transport, Cllr Hinchcliffe said: “I acknowledge that the two new facilities may not be directly accessible on one bus journey from either Queensbury or from Bingley, however both communities have alternative facilities available which are on bus routes.

“According to the WYMetro travel planner, the easiest swimming facility by bus from Queensbury would probably be Halifax Pool which is a 15-minute bus journey.”

Campaigner Sharon Johnson said: “We cannot quite get our heads around the fact that the leader of Bradford Council would suggest that our children go to pools in Halifax for their swimming lessons.

“Talk about handing Calderdale Council a large amount of money on a plate for school swimming lessons that our own council should be providing! I bet Halifax are thrilled.”

The campaigners’ email response to Cllr Hinchcliffe’s suggestion said: “I am quite simply amazed that, as Council leader, you would readily suggest in your email that the easiest swimming facility for us to reach by bus from Queensbury will be Halifax Pool. I bet Halifax are thrilled!

“You are very happy as an authority to accept Queensbury’s Council tax income. This is disgraceful. It demonstrates the authority’s total lack of regard for us and the 16 primary schools currently using Queensbury Pool for their swimming lessons may choose to attend a pool within another local authority area which will be closer to them - whilst generating much needed income for Calderdale Council.

“If the schools do choose Halifax, then Bradford Council will lose a huge amount of income from swimming lessons immediately. Has this been taken into account in any projections?

“It is simply quite unfair to remove the pool from our community to replace it into a completely different community without knowing for sure that it will prove beneficial to anyone.”

Cllr Hinchcliffe said: “None of us live our lives within local authority boundaries. Bradford children go to state schools in Leeds and Halifax and take part in sports activities across boundaries. And likewise Bradford attracts its own share of visits from near neighbours. Given government cuts, there will inevitably be greater local interaction across boundaries.”

Calderdale Council’s Cabinet member for Neighbourhoods and Communities, Cllr Susan Press, said: "Calderdale sports facilities welcome any swimmers, gym users, fitness class fans and players of a wide variety of sports, to all of our centres right across the borough.

“Anyone interested in using our sports facilities should visit www.calderdale.gov.uk/sport for more information about our membership offers and full range of activities and classes.”