Free Swimming funded by the Government from April 1st 2009

kprigg

Looks like Maidstone is not getting any :





People of Maidstone will be left out of nationwide plans to offer free swimming to school children and the over 60s.

The government announced the £140 million plan in June to boost sport and fitness, and to promote the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The government would provide some funding for two years for each council, but it would not cover all of the costs.

Financial constraints have forced councillors to turn down the idea.

Cabinet members for Leisure and Culture committee of Maidstone council decided they would not take part in the Government initiative.

Concerns were raised that the scheme would lead to reductions in funding for other services, especially when the council is trying to make savings in the budget.

It was estimated the annual cost for free swims would be £417,978.

After it was made known East Kent Primary Care Trust was looking to support the initiative in their area, Maidstone councillors approached West Kent PCT hoping they would help with the funding.

In a statement by West Kent PCT, read out at the council meeting, they said they did not have the finances to invest.

It said: “The Public Health team here (West Kent), has looked at the east Kent approach and see if it works for us.

“Our own financial position, while significantly improved, doesn’t allow us the same latitude as east Kent.

“Our own approach would suggest the need for targeted investment to reduce inequalities in areas of greatest need.

“I think it unlikely we would follow in the East Kent model, but if the public health view of priorities points in a different way, we’ll let you know.”

It was addressed that the scheme would offer deprived families with a good opportunity, but it was argued that the scheme would not apply solely to them and would be available to people from all backgrounds.

It was also noted that Maidstone Leisure Centre, Mote Park, is already well used without the initiative.

The news that the council have decided not to offer free swimming has left Lib-Dem councillor Fran Wilson outraged.

She said: “In the year of Olympic triumph in Beijing for British swimmers it is simply outrageous that the ruling Tories will not support this free swimming initiative.

“'Local people deserve better than this. Sport is a great discipline for young people and a great way for the more mature people to keep healthy
“We are constantly being told by Government that a healthy nation is a better nation.”`



I just dont understand how they can say no when this was announced as if the whole country were getting it :mad:. I now have to pay over £10 to take my 3 year old swimming. At least my youngest still classes as a baby, but next year I would have to fork out nearly £15. Looks like they wont be able to learn to swim after all.

topsey65

Havant isn't taking part!!

R4D5

Some people are mentioning free lessons for children - has anyone confirmed this, I assume that it will only be free entrance but not training

My councils website says free swimming for U16 and 60+

Edit

Just found some extra info on a neighbouring councils website - specifically says swimming lessons are NOT free - (boo, hiss)

dizzie

Harrogate Borough Council are not particpating in this either. Despite the funding offered to them by the government, they say it will cost more than this and council tax payers will end up funding it. Fair enough I guess.

Besides, if the government funding is only for two years, I have visions of some areas where the carrot of "free" swimming will make the pools overcrowded and rather impossible to swim in (stop, start, bump, stop!). Once the novelty has worn off, overcrowding might not be a problem but then the funding will come to an end....which may put councils in a dilemna - continue funding free swimming out of council taxes, or put an an end to it (which will disappoint all those who got used to it)...

Another gimick by the government in my book, to detract from all the other mess they've got us into.

Mind you whilst I can see Harrogate Borough Council's reasons for refusal, I'm pretty hacked off that all the council staff (including councillors) have been offered leisure facilities including swimming at concessionary rates! What on earth for - they get paid for doing their jobs don't they?

RuthMarianna

We live in Chesterfield/ Derbyshire and my daughter has made enquiries at the local leisure centre and found that she can apply for a pass for her son to swim free at any time. Applies to all under 16s.

tia1803

lew wrote: »

http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/sport/5810.aspx
UA = Unitary Authority
Adur
Allerdale
Alnwick
Amber Valley
Arun
Ashfield
Ashford
Aylesbury Vale
Babergh
Barking & Dagenham
Barnet
Barnsley
Barrow-In-Furness
Basildon
Bassetlaw
Bath & North East Somerset UA
Bedford
Berwick-Upon-Tweed
Bexley
Birmingham
Blaby
Blackburn With Darwen UA
Blackpool UA
Blyth Valley
Bolsover
Bolton
Boston
Bournemouth UA
Bracknell Forest UA
Bradford
Braintree
Breckland
Brent
Brentwood
Bridgnorth
Brighton And Hove UA
Bristol, City Of UA
Broadland
Bromley
Bromsgrove
Broxbourne
Broxtowe
Burnley
Bury
Calderdale
Cambridge
Camden
Cannock Chase
Canterbury
Caradon
Carlisle
Carrick
Castle Morpeth
Castle Point
Charnwood
Chelmsford
Cheltenham
Cherwell
Chester
Chesterfield
Chester-Le-Street
Chichester
Chiltern
Chorley
Christchurch
City Of London
Colchester
Congleton
Copeland
Corby
Cotswold
Coventry
Craven
Crawley
Crewe & Nantwich
Croydon
Dacorum
Darlington UA
Dartford
Daventry
Derby UA
Derbyshire Dales
Derwentside
Doncaster
Dover
Dudley
Durham
Ealing
Easington
East Cambridgeshire
East Devon
East Dorset
East Hampshire
East Hertfordshire
East Lindsey
East Northamptonshire
East Riding Of Yorkshire UA
East Staffordshire
Eastbourne
Eastleigh
Eden
Ellesmere Port & Neston
Elmbridge
Enfield
England
Epping Forest
Epsom & Ewell
Erewash
Exeter
Fareham
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Forest Heath
Forest Of Dean
Fylde
Gateshead
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Gloucester
Gosport
Gravesham
Great Yarmouth
Greenwich
Guildford
Hackney
Halton UA
Hambleton
Hammersmith & Fulham
Harborough
Haringey
Harlow
Harrogate
Harrow
Hart
Hartlepool UA
Hastings
Havant
Havering
Herefordshire UA
Hertsmere
High Peak
Hillingdon
Hinckley & Bosworth
Horsham
Hounslow
Huntingdonshire
Hyndburn
Ipswich
Isle Of Wight UA
Isles Of Scilly
Islington
Kennet
Kensington & Chelsea
Kerrier
Kettering
Kings Lynn & West Norfolk
Kingston Upon Hull, City Of UA
Kingston Upon Thames
Kirklees
Knowsley
Lambeth
Lancaster
Leeds
Leicester UA
Lewes
Lewisham
Lichfield
Lincoln
Liverpool
Luton UA
Macclesfield
Maidstone
Maldon
Malvern Hills
Manchester
Mansfield
Medway UA
Melton
Mendip
Merton
Mid Bedfordshire
Mid Devon
Mid Suffolk
Mid Sussex
Middlesbrough UA
Milton Keynes UA
Mole Valley
New Forest
Newark & Sherwood
Newcastle Upon Tyne
Newcastle-Under-Lyme
Newham
North Cornwall
North Devon
North Dorset
North East Derbyshire
North East Lincolnshire UA
North Hertfordshire
North Kesteven
North Lincolnshire UA
North Norfolk
North Shropshire
North Somerset UA
North Tyneside
North Warwickshire
North West Leicestershire
North Wiltshire
Northampton
Norwich
Nottingham UA
Nuneaton & Bedworth
Oadby & Wigston
Oldham
Oswestry
Oxford
Pendle
Penwith
Peterborough UA
Plymouth UA
Poole UA
Portsmouth UA
Preston
Purbeck
Reading UA
Redbridge
Redcar & Cleveland UA
Redditch
Reigate & Banstead
Restormel
Ribble Valley
Richmond Upon Thames
Richmondshire
Rochdale
Rochford
Rossendale
Rother
Rotherham
Rugby
Runnymede
Rushcliffe
Rushmoor
Rutland UA
Ryedale
Salford
Salisbury
Sandwell
Scarborough
Sedgefield
Sedgemoor
Sefton
Selby
Sevenoaks
Sheffield
Shepway
Shrewsbury & Atcham
Slough UA
Solihull
South Bedfordshire
South Bucks
South Cambridgeshire
South Derbyshire
South Gloucestershire UA
South Hams
South Holland
South Kesteven
South Lakeland
South Norfolk
South Northamptonshire
South Oxfordshire
South Ribble
South Shropshire
South Somerset
South Staffordshire
South Tyneside
Southampton UA
Southend UA
Southwark
Spelthorne
St Albans
St Edmundsbury
St Helens
Stafford
Staffordshire Moorlands
Stevenage
Stockport
Stockton-On-Tees UA
Stoke-On-Trent UA
Stratford-On-Avon
Stroud
Suffolk Coastal
Sunderland
Surrey Heath
Sutton
Swale
Swindon UA
Tameside
Tamworth
Tandridge
Taunton Deane
Teesdale
Teignbridge
Telford And Wrekin UA
Tendring
Test Valley
Tewkesbury
Thanet
Three Rivers
Thurrock UA
Tonbridge & Malling
Torbay UA
Torridge
Tower Hamlets
Trafford
Tunbridge Wells
Tynedale
Uttlesford
Vale Of White Horse
Vale Royal
Wakefield
Walsall
Waltham Forest
Wandsworth
Wansbeck
Warrington UA
Warwick
Watford
Waveney
Waverley
Wealden
Wear Valley
Wellingborough
Welwyn Hatfield
West Berkshire UA
West Devon
West Dorset
West Lancashire
West Lindsey
West Oxfordshire
West Somerset
West Wiltshire
Westminster
Weymouth & Portland
Wigan
Winchester
Windsor And Maidenhead UA
Wirral
Woking
Wokingham UA
Wolverhampton
Worcester
Worthing
Wychavon
Wycombe
Wyre
Wyre Forest
York UA

sheffield is on this list but not on the website?????

Tracymae

Fife Council have been doing this since 2006

brightonman123

isnt this (initially) age discrimination (in reverse, for a change!)

us young'uns need exercise, too!

brightonman123

is the scheme being funded by central government, or lottery (or both?) cant see why local govts need to have their budgets stretched even further,.,

Nosmo_King_2

Stockport is only giving free swimming to the over 60's, looks like the under 16's will have to wait (for at least another 44 years or so!)