Pool cash boost for council (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Pool cash boost for council

11:46am Wednesday 10th December 2008 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(1)

Bradford Council is to receive more than £600,000 from the Government to offer free swimming to people aged over 60 and under 16.

A total of £123,944 is for subsidising over-60s swimming and £345,881 has been allocated for under 16s provision.

These figures are based on population. The Council has also been allocated £149,440 as a capital grant.

The two-year deal will still leave the Council with an expected £110,00 shortfall and will come into place in April.

The Council agreed in September to sign up to both schemes, as have the other four authorities in West Yorkshire. It is now eligible for extra funding for swimming pool improvements and has applied to a national pot of £50 million for help in building a 25-metre city-centre pool.

Building a new showpiece pool in the city centre is at the heart of the Telegraph & Argus Save Our Swimming campaign, which has now been supported by more than 2,600 people. It also calls for the Council to safeguard the future of community swimming pools.