Council to take plunge on swimming cash (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Council to take plunge on swimming cash

9:43pm Tuesday 9th September 2008 in News By Jo Winrow

Bradford Council is to draw up initial plans for modernising swimming provision in the district and bid for a slice of a £50 million Government pot.

The capital challenge fund will be available over the next two financial years to authorities who commit to provide free swimming for over 60s and under 16s.

The Council now has until October 15 to submit its stage one plans. In addition a further £10 million will be available this year to help improve swimming facilities and local authorities who sign up for both age groups will receive a one-off capital grant.

It could be used as project development costs for any bid to create a city centre or community pool.

The Council’s decision-making executive discussed the proposals at a meeting today. Concerns were expressed that the Government plan to offer free swimming to the over 60s would effectively cost the Council £40,000 a year.

Bradford has been allocated £123,944 per year for the next two years based on its population to provide free swimming for the over 60s. After that, the authority is expected to bear the brunt of the cost itself.

And further costs to the Council of subsidising pool trips for under 16s have yet to be calculated. The Government will announce that allocation by the end of September.

The Council’s strategic director for culture, tourism and sport, Jane Glaister, said: “The allocation of funding from the Government is for two years only. We could ask for it to be sustained over the long term.”

Earlier this year the Telegraph & Argus launched our Save Our Swimming campaign in the wake of a report by consultants which identified under-investment in the Council’s pools but recommended closing those in Bingley, Queensbury, Manningham and at the Richard Dunn sports centre in Odsal.

More than 2,500 people have signed up to the campaign which calls for the Council to safeguard the future of community swimming pools in the district and to build a new showpiece pool in the city centre. Councillors agreed not to accept the consultants’ findings and a more detailed report is expected to be put before the executive next month.

In the meantime the executive today agreed to accept the offer of a one-off capital reward fund to help prepare a feasibility study for a city centre pool and initial scoping work for extra swimming pool provision in the district.

The leader of Kirklees Council, Councillor Robert Light has accused the Government of “short-changing” councils over free swimming and said that it is a “cynical bribe” that Councils cannot refuse.

He said: “This Government plan is deliberately putting councils in a position where they have no option but to accept the cash on offer. But it is short-term, and comes with no guarantees as to longer term Government funding. Once you provide something ‘free’ it is difficult to turn the clock back.”