Tories launch plan to axe free swimming (From Daily Echo)

Tories launch plan to axe free swimming

9:22am Tuesday 28th October 2008 in

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TORY councillors last night launched their plan to axe free swimming sessions in Southampton under proposals to plug a £13m budget black hole.

And they rejected as inadequate a Government grant to extend the city council’s scheme from under-12s to under-16s.

Other Hampshire councils such as Portsmouth, Winchester and Eastleigh have already pledged to sign up to the venture – intended as a London Olympic 2012 legacy.

The proposal to scrap free swimming sessions at the council’s three pools, part of a number of savings approved for consultation last night, would save the council £160,000 next year.

The scheme was introduced for under sevens two years ago and rolled out further by a Lib Lab budget coalition in April. Around 2,600 kids have registered.

But Tories claim it has a low take-up and that it was too costly, with no significant increase in pool usage.

Cabinet member for resources councillor Jeremy Moulton said they were committed to school sports activities through other schemes.

He said like the “free” bus travel scheme for the over 60s last year the Government had not stumped up enough cash, and was offering to pay only an estimated quarter of the costs for free under-16s swimming.

“Sadly, it is not affordable within our current economic pressures,” he said.

However, capital investment of nearly £600,000 in swimming pools and their machinery, including replacement control panels, filtration and heating pumps, was signed off.

Cabinet member for leisure councillor John Hannides said it underlined the council’s commitment to secure its swimming pools and leisure centres across the city for all residents.

Swimming groups have already condemned the plan to axe free swimming saying it will deprive primary aged kids of a “necessity” and a chance to build life skills and get into sport.

Labour Councillor Don Thomas, whose Coxford ward includes the council’s Oaklands swimming pool, said: “This is lunacy with the Olympics coming our way. This is Tory madness in action.”

The council has agreed to introduce free swimming for over-60s from April with two years of Government funding.