Local pensioners not in the Swim
December 10, 2008 2:40 PM
The people of Poole and East Dorset are missing out on free swimming because their Councils have not signed up to a Government run scheme.
• 82% of councils across the UK now provide free swimming for over 60's as part of the Governments free swimming initiative.
• 60% of councils have agreed to include both under-16s and over-60s in the scheme.
• Poole Council and East Dorset District Council are one of the few who have not taken advantage of this scheme to improve health and fitness and increase participation in sport.
Annette Brooke, MP for Mid Dorset & North Poole commented:
"It is a great shame that these Councils have not taken advantage of this opportunity. At the very least they should introduce free swimming for the over 60's.
"It is not often that this Government introduces something that could actually help out the average person in the street. This scheme has the potential to do that, but local people will miss out on it.
"Poole Council complain that they cannot afford to pay for the scheme, and yet the Council leaders have just voted to increase their own salaries, some of them by up to 100%.
Notes:
The Government's press release states:
"In total, 291 councils (82 per cent) are to offer free swimming to the over 60s while 211 (60 per cent) will open their pools for free to both the over 60s and those aged 16 and under."
The full list of councils taking part is below:
<<a href="http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/134b_Free_swimming_authorities.pdf">http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/134b_Free_swimming_authorities.pdf>
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