Pleas for new investment to boost attendances at Ryedale's swimming pools and leisure centres have been made to the district council.

Peter Walker, chief executive of Ryesport, which was set up by Ryedale District Council four years ago to run the Ryedale Pool at Pickering, Derwent Pool in Norton, and the Northern Ryedale Leisure Centre (NRLC) in Pickering, told the community service and licensing committee that people were giving the cold shoulder to the premises because of a lack of facilities, especially in the changing rooms.

At the NRLC, he said, there were no facilities to store clothes or any lockers for valuables, which made it difficult to encourage adults, and as a result he and his staff were concentrating on boosting children's activities.

Since Ryesport was set up, said Mr Walker, it had saved the council £400,000. He said he was confident there would " a new relationship" as a result of the new management structure which has been set up in the council. "This is the first time in four years I have been able to speak to the councillors," he added.

Admission charges are due to rise 5pc next year, but Mr Walker said he was not confident of winning increased usage because of the inadequate facilities.

At the Derwent Pool. he expected about 43,000 swimmers to use the facility, plus a further 17,000 using the lifestyle suite, producing a total income of £109,000. But its use had been hampered by a lack of confidence in the public on such issues as the temperature of the water and inadequate changing rooms.

To counteract the drop in use by adults, Ryesport was staging more pre-paid activities and children's classes.

The Ryedale Pool, he said, was likely to have 72,000 swimmers next year and income of £169,000.

Meanwhile, the NRLC was likely to be used by 48,000 people, 8,000 of whom would be using the artifical pitch, generating a total income of £97,000.

Ryesport was able to offer about 100 different facilities catering from everyone from toddlers and new mums to pensioners.

Improvements were needed at the Derwent Pool and there were plans, said Mr Walker, to build an extension for the lifestyle suite. "We have run out of space. We are keen to improve facilities."

The plan, he added, was to build an extension at the front of the pool to provide a jacuzzi, sauna, sunbed and new reception area, but the site would have to be researched first by archaeologists.

There had been a big increase in membership of the lifestyle complex - from 40 to 200.

A survey carried out among 750,000 users of the Ryesport facilities over the years showed that only a quarter of 1pc had complained.

"We are striving, but we are batting on the back foot," he told councillors.

Competition Line UK was prepared to be a partner in upgrading facilities, he said.

Coun Chris Parkin said Ryesport had been given "an impossible task" to implement a sports strategy for Ryedale. "They are batting on a sticky wicket," he added, blaming a "strained relationship" between the company and the council.

In addition, there had been difficulties between the county council and RDC over the operation of the NRLC. Coun Allin Jenkins urged: "We need to look forward, not backwards."

Coun Linda Cowling believed there needed to be "some head-banging if there is an attitude problem". "Some of the facilities are so poor they won't be used," she said.

Ryesport is seeking a grant of £279,459 for the coming financial year but councillors are to have another report at the committee's next meeting in February.

Updated: 10:00 Thursday, December 13, 2001