Free swimming under-funded, say Tories (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Free swimming under-funded, say Tories

4:28pm Wednesday 29th October 2008 in News

Councils could be left with huge bills after the Government failed to provide enough cash to allow free swimming for under 16s, the Tories claim.

Research into the Govern-ment’s Olympic legacy plans to offer free swimming for under-16s last night revealed a £22 million shortfall in funding, say the Conservatives.

It was announced that £25 million per year would be allocated for two years shared between councils across the country for the provision.

But £11.1m extra per year will be needed from town halls up and down the country to plug the hole, the Tories claim.

It will cost Bradford Council £336,500 each year to implement the scheme – some of which will come from the Government’s central £25 million pot.

Bradford Council’s Tory leis-ure portfolio holder, Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, said there was “no such thing as a free dinner.”

She said: “This is a con. The reality is there is some funding but it will not be enough and we will have to spend more money – so the taxpayer will subsidise it.

“A cynic could say it was an election bribe. The Government should cough up all the money.”

But a spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said: “We were always clear to local authorities that the under-16s free swimming pot, of £50 million over two years, was a challenge fund and that councils may have to find revenue from their own budgets or other sources to help maximise the offer. Three-hundred out of 354 local authorities have confirmed they will participate in the over-60s free-swimming offer which shows the desire there is to help get the nation active.”

Swimming provision has been a bane of the Council’s life for many months after a controversial report by consultants recommended the closure of some pools. That report was rejected by senior councillors but more than 2,600 people have signed up to the Telegraph & Argus Save Our Swimming campaign, which calls for the Council to safeguard community pools.