IT has been an eventful week in the ongoing battle for the future of Holywell Mead.

There were accusations at a heated Wycombe District Council meeting that responses in a recent consultation had been compromised by campaigners, who ‘hijacked’ the survey.

It also emerged again there was a glimmer of hope for people desperate to return to The Rye for their swim, and that some form of pool had not been ruled out. We hope the council pays attention to the results of the consultation.

It may very well be true the results have been slightly skewed by a vocal minority, but this is surely the case with any consultation on a matter provoking such impassioned feelings.

Part of the survey was conducted through focus groups and randomly sampled telephone surveys – it is hard to see how these results could be swayed. Written responses, of course, are more easily influenced by campaigners, but that is the nature of consultations. Those who care most about a subject are the ones who shout loudest and encourage others to do so.

But we are glad to hear Cllr Tony Green said the council is not planning to dismiss the consultation. Perhaps some elements need to be carefully considered, but that hardly means it was a wasted exercise.

Holywell Mead was a much-loved, if underused, facility for many years. Even if the pool cannot be returned to its former glory, at least the possibility remains that people could enjoy a swim there again sometime in the future.