AS a regular swimmer, I am delighted by Dorchester’s new pool and how popular it is proving to be.

However, on the last two occasions when I have used it, the adult sessions on Sunday afternoon, I have been disappointed to find that a third of the pool has been closed off.

The remainder has been split into three lanes in which a variety of fast and slow swimmers try to avoid one another.

This configuration is less satisfactory than the old pool from the point of a recreational swimmer who does not wish to simply go up and down the pool.

The old pool normally had only one lane set aside for the more dedicated swimmers.

I asked the pool attendant why this was so and I was told that it was because he was on his own.

I assume that the primary purposes for the attendant are to maintain discipline and for the safety of swimmers, which are respectable reasons.

But from my observations, the only disciplinary action that has been necessary has been to redirect swimmers away from the closed off part of the pool.

Furthermore, from a safety point of view it seems to me that any risk assessment is unlikely to suggest that it is more dangerous to have the same number of adult swimmers in six rather than four lanes in a 25-metre pool.

In drawing attention to this issue, I hope that the pool operators will review their present policy and let us have access to the benefits of the six lane pool we have paid for.

Roy Martindale Manor Road Dorchester