THIRTY years after the old Silk Street baths were demolished, despite a huge uproar, Leigh is once again to have its own pool -- in the new Sports Village complex.

But the ripples of discontent have already started in Atherton and Tyldesley where the towns are likely to lose their baths. There is no doubt that they will swell into a storm of protest as tough decisions are made.

It is proposed that the recently refurbished Mayfield Street pool will close by Christmas with Tyldesley shutting by January 2007.

Existing users will be able to transfer to Howe Bridge Sports Centre or the new 25m pool at Leigh, and the £100,000 saving made in the closure of Atherton Baths will be used to fund free swimming for all under 16s, all year round, starting next April.

That's all well and good, and a welcome move, but the cost of travelling the extra miles will surely wipe out these benefits -- and what about the over 16s?

Grandad Douglas Evans was the first on the phone to protest on hearing whispers of the plans. He accompanies his two young grandchildren to Mayfield Street every Saturday and says the plans are a disgrace, bound to cause an outcry and that people should fight every step of the way to save them.

Leigh has needed and wanted a pool for many years and the new move for us is very welcome, but not quite so much when it is at the expense of the smaller towns.

Write to me at lrichards@lancashire.newsquest.co.uk and tell me what you think.