6:30am Monday 9th February 2009
By Matt Smith
THOUSANDS of children are to get free swimming in Southampton after council chiefs struck a deal with health chiefs and schools.
Tory city bosses claimed the Government was not providing enough cash to introduce the scheme.
They threatened to scrap existing free sessions for under-12s at three city pools to help to save £160,000.
Now schools and the city’s health bosses have agreed to help the council meet the estimated £400,000 cost of bringing in the under-16s initiative from April.
Julia Passingham, from the Hampshire Amateur Swimming Association, said: “It’s great news. It’s a welcome turnaround. It’s important kids get the opportunity not just to learn to swim but to go into the pool and have fun and get water confidence.
“Swimming is probably at the bottom of the list of parents’ priorities at the moment, so this free facility will be absolutely fantastic.”
Council chiefs said the funding deal, struck with schools and Southampton City Primary Care Trust, would last two years.
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