SIR, As I know you have been made aware BSLT have taken the decision to reduce both staffing and hours at the Borders’ swimming pools in order to cut costs.

To an extent I understand this but quite why they have chosen to cut the hours at the times they have mystifies me.

I have been a regular swimmer - four times a week - at Gala for the past 23 years; over this time their hours have reduced and reduced to the point that my family and I now struggle to align ourselves with their opening times.

I solved the problem by going to Selkirk on a Monday night and on a Saturday morning. Selkirk now close at 8pm instead of 8.30pm and are not open after 10.15am on a Saturday morning-this has ended my Saturday swimming.

I resigned myself to one evening a week in Gala - a Tuesday from 7pm to 8pm, Ladies Night. This session was always very busy with a clientele I don’t usually meet at the pool, it filled a slot for ladies who are shy in swimwear but enjoyed the gentle ambience of this session-to my great disappointment this session has been removed.

I will find another form of exercise but I fear many of these, particularly older swimmers, will now cease to exercise.

How can BSLT justify their comments in the Border Telegraph, particularly when we are being bombarded with advice to exercise more and take care of our health?

So much for the legacy of London 2012 and Glasgow 2014. The Scottish Borders are lagging far behind many other parts of the UK when it comes to providing adequate swimming facilities for their inhabitants.

I, along with others, will be withdrawing my swimming membership with BSLT as we can no longer use their facilities – this won’t be helping their financial position but we are left with no option.

I am, etc.

Fiona K Bell Galashiels