FOR some time now Skipton's Aireville Swimming Pool has been a sorry sight. Justifiable complaints have flooded in as the council poured a fortune into what has amounted to little more than patching together the crumbling building and its decrepit boiler with sticky tape.

Now relief is in sight for the legions of disgruntled swimmers who have had to put up with unexpected closures, lockers which don't work, dirty showers and freezing water thanks to a National Lottery grant.

The pool could be larger, but a 25 metre pool is better than no pool at all.

Council officers have poured considerable effort into bringing this project to fruition. When first knocked back, they could have given the job up as a waste of time and energy. Instead they have persisted, jumped through the many and varied hoops associated with attracting any grants these days and can finally celebrate success.

In this case they deserve a pat on the back and our gratitude.