Young people speak up for free swimming

The full Warwick District Council met on Wednesday night and eloquent representations were made by sixth formers of North Leamington school.

One student said: “It only costs £2 to go swimming and that is not too much money for most well off families - and there are lots of well off families in the area. They could do free swimming just for those that can’t afford it.”

Another accused the council of looking at it from a purely economic position and not taking into account the loss of a free community activity, and the tackling of obesity problems.

The debate stemmed from an executive committee proposal to scrap free swimming for under 16s and over 60s from April next year.

Cllr Andrew Mobbs (Con, Kenilworth Park Hill) said: “I fancy it’s difficult for the executive to do a backstroke.

“It is one very small part of this massive budget deficit, but we are one of only 12 of over 300 councils that have continued this.

“It would cost £159,000 to keep free swimming for another year.”

Cllr Susan Gallagher (Con, Leek Wootton) said: “We always knew it was time limited, and it didn’t work.

“At a time of financial difficulties this is a luxury that can not be afforded.”

One student responded by saying that a year was not a fair representation of the success of the scheme, and proposed that free swimming lessons replace free swimming in general.

They added: “Lessons are teaching people to learn a skill. At Newbold Comyn baths it is £56 for a term of lessons.

“With cut backs if parents didn’t have to pay £56, that’s a week’s grocery shopping and the money saved will go back into shops locally.”

They also took Cllr Norman Vincett up on his offer to sit down and brainstorm ideas.

Councillors voted in favour of scrapping free swimming, and it will go before the scrutiny committee next week.