Free swimming is back on the agenda in the New Forest (From Daily Echo)

Free swimming is back on the agenda in the New Forest

4:04pm Thursday 22nd July 2010 in

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PLANS to axe free swimming for teenagers and pensioners in the New Forest have been put on hold, the Daily Echo can reveal.

Several local authorities have scrapped the scheme after the Government refused to continue funding it – but a similar decision by New Forest District Council has been blocked by the Liberal Democrat opposition group.

The abolition of free swimming will now be postponed pending a meeting at which leisure chiefs will be urged to explore other funding options.

Cllr David Harrison, former leader of the Lib Dem group, said: “The council’s decision to halt the scheme was a kneejerk reaction.

“We should consider using money from other budgets. At the very least I’d like us to continue providing free swimming for children during the school holidays.”

Cllr Harrison said he hoped the council could attract commercial sponsorship from companies that wanted to be associated with a positive initiative.

Free swimming for people under 17 and over 60 was introduced at all council- owned leisure centres in the New Forest last year.

Cllr Harrison added: “The scheme has been a spectacular success.

“Swimming has gone up by 20 per cent, delivering huge benefits in terms of health. It’s also been terrific in providing young people in particular with a positive activity and hopefully dampening down crime and antisocial behaviour.”

The Lib Dems have “called in” the council’s decision to scrap free swimming on July 31.

Cllr Di Brooks, Cabinet member for leisure, said: “The £110,000-a-year scheme was introduced on condition it was funded by the government.

“The funding has now been withdrawn and we don’t think it would be right to spend council taxpayers’ money on something we said we wouldn’t finance.

Taking money from some other budget could result in cuts elsewhere.”

Free swimming for children and pensioners has already been scrapped in towns and cities across Hampshire, including Winchester, Southampton and Eastleigh.

However, charges for children using pools in Eastleigh and Winchester will be waived in August.