We are writing to you on this occasion to express our extreme disappointment in the decision that Sandy Balls has taken in cancelling forthwith the Rookies Lifesaving courses that used to take place on Saturday mornings at the swimming centre.

Our daughter has attended the Saturday morning sessions for the past three years and has thoroughly enjoyed working with James and the other life guards towards achieving the relevant skills in lifesaving. She has always been keen to state of her desire to use these skills later in her life whether it be at Sandy Balls or another like environment where these skills could be required. The desire of Sandy Balls to remove the opportunity of the local community to gain this life skill in favour of enabling park visitors to use the pool between what are relatively unsociable swimming hours, early on a Saturday morning, is a terrible shame and clearly shows where Sandy Balls sees its future priorities.

The lifesaving courses at Sandy Balls have benefited the community and centre itself for many years, now enabling close bonds to be formed in terms of those who provide this service and the youngsters who aspire to work as lifesavers in the future.

I would therefore ask that this matter be reviewed at the earliest opportunity and if an alternative solution can be found where sessions could continue at Sandy Balls then I would be pleased to hear back from them. The option to continue this service at Ringwood Leisure Centre is a poor substitute.

John and Diane Daniel, Fordingbridge