AN ELITE swimming programme which has helped train Olympians from the district is under threat in its current form as Bradford Council looks to reduce the funding to the development scheme.

The Council is currently in discussion with the City of Bradford Swimming Club about changes to its long-standing specialist programme.

A key meeting is set to take place in less than a fortnight with Council bosses, where the club is expected to find out exactly how the funding cuts will affect the future of the squad.

The proposals involve considering "alternative delivery models" for the elite training of the district's top young swimmers - and some of the options are believed to involve fewer lessons or higher fees.

David Alexander, chairman of the City of Bradford Swimming Club, which was formed more than 30 years ago as the competitive outlet for the authority's coaching and training scheme, reiterated that the club itself did not have any financial issues and that its position was stable.

He said: "We are still in negotiation with the Council and we are very keen to keep things going."

He went on to explain that the club provides the competitive swimming meets for those taking part in the high performance swimming squad, but the training is provided directly by the Council-run programme through Council-employed coaches.

He added: "At this time I can't say exactly what will happen. We may not run things as they are at the moment, but I am confident that the club will continue to provide competitive swimming for swimmers in the city of Bradford."

Council budget documents outline proposals to save £235,000 in the next financial year across sports facilities and sports and swimming development by considering "alternative delivery models for sports development work, sports hall, dual use sites, diving/swimming coaching and outdoor activities" as well as re-focusing sports services by reviewing sessions at Council sports facilities to maximise uptake.

Phil Barker, the Council's assistant director for sport and leisure, said they were looking at the way in which competitive swimming is delivered, in line with budget savings already agreed.

"As part of this process we have recently entered into discussions with the swimming clubs about the future management and delivery of our elite squad which is currently run by the Council and we are asking the clubs for their views.

"The local authority is facing significant cuts year on year and has to look at services being delivered in a different way. This is not just happening in sport and leisure.

"We believe that the elite swimming coaching scheme could be efficiently run through a range of delivery methods, but at this stage we are having discussions with the swimming clubs about our options.

"This proposal is specifically linked to the high performance swimming squad the majority of which compete under the membership of the City of Bradford Swimming Club and would not affect the main club activity or any other swimming clubs of the district and the learn to swim programmes.”

Famous alumni of the elite programme include Olympic medallists Alistair and Jonny Brownlee, who won gold and bronze respectively in the triathlon at London 2012; Olympic swimmer Janine Belton, from Thornton, who swam in both the 1996 and 2000 Games; and Ilkley's Sian Morgan, who represented Wales at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014 and in Delhi in 2010.