Young and old will get free swimming (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Young and old will get free swimming
8:33am Wednesday 5th November 2008 in News
Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe MP
The over-60s and under-16s will be able to swim for free at Bradford Council-owned pools from next April.
Council chiefs will meet on Tuesday and be handed a report updating them on the Government plans for free swimming and the costs involved.
Coun Anne Hawkesworth, executive member for Culture and Tourism, said: “There will be additional costs to the Council, because the Government is only funding part of the free swimming programme for the first two years.”
The Council told the T&A there is a shortfall of £70,000 for under-16s and a further £40,000 for over-60s.
Sports Minister and Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe welcomed the Council’s commitment but urged it to go further. He said: “I am pleased Bradford has made this announcement but I want it to make sure it has the right swimming pools in the right places so people can access the facilities.”
Comments(7)
Legion
says...
10:07am Wed 5 Nov 08
They say the young & old will get free admission to swim, yet the government are knocking down all the swimming pools!!
Where do they want us to swim, the local park pond?
albion
says...
10:41am Wed 5 Nov 08
Cristos
says...
11:03am Wed 5 Nov 08
Old Perculiar
says...
11:12am Wed 5 Nov 08
It would have been nice if the council had done it off their own backs, rather than being told they had to do it. There will be extra revenue from adults taking their kids, who normally wouldn't go because of the cost, and also from the associated spending - cafe's and swimming lessons etc
pmtnut
says...
11:24am Wed 5 Nov 08
Old Perculiar wrote:I'm guessing it will still cost a tenner to take a family of 4 swimming. Where are they going to get the shortfall from? I'm guessing the 16-60 year olds will be paying for that with their admission prices most probably being increased.
No - this is a step forward, it currently costs about a tenner to take a family of 4 swimming, and that price puts a lot of people off. Anything that gets kids swimming is good. There are plenty of council owned pools in Bradford ; Shipley, Eccleshill, Keighley, Dunnes, West Bowling (which is a new pool I think you will find). It would have been nice if the council had done it off their own backs, rather than being told they had to do it. There will be extra revenue from adults taking their kids, who normally wouldn't go because of the cost, and also from the associated spending - cafe's and swimming lessons etc
Jammy
says...
3:08pm Wed 5 Nov 08
Jammy
says...
3:08pm Wed 5 Nov 08
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