Free swimming to continue in Rotherham ...for now

The future looked uncertain after the coalition announced that it would not bank-roll the popular scheme beyond July 31.

But the borough council has confirmed that it WILL continue in Rotherham for the rest of the financial year.

It costs £300,000 annually in the borough, and the council will talk to the NHS and pool operators DC Leisure to see if it can continue after then.

Cllr Iain St John, Cabinet member for sport and culture, said: "I'm delighted that this decision has been reached, and free swimming will continue to be available for under-16s and over-60s in Rotherham, at least until the end of the financial year.

"I have big concerns as to whether we can afford to continue it beyond next April. So my message is for people to enjoy the moment and get the maximum benefit they can while it is still available.

"The Government's timing of ending the funding is rather sad, as it comes as the summer holidays start.

"The Minister for Sport said that the scheme had not proved to be value for money because it was mostly people who would have paid to go swimming going more often.

"I can accept that there is some validity to this nationally, but it is clear that here in Rotherham there have been extra children and older people going swimming."

Free swimming for all under-16s and over-60s was launched in April 2009. In Rotherham, it co-incided with the new wave of multi-million pound leisure centres being opened.

Cllr St John said: "There is an issue with fitness with all age ranges in Rotherham including the over-60s and obesity in children.

"Swimming is one of the most popular forms of physical recreation, perhaps only beaten by walking."

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An evaluation report for the Government by independent consultants PricewaterhouseCoopers suggested that national take-up had not made the offer value for money.

Cancelling free swimming will save the Government about £40 million.

"This is not a decision that gives me any pleasure," said Hugh Robertson, Minister for Sport and Olympics.

"However, the research shows that the great majority of free swimmers were swimming already, and would have paid to swim anyway.

"With a crippling deficit to tackle and tough decisions to take, this has become a luxury we can no longer afford."

We'll protect services, says Rotherham Council leader. See this week's Advertiser.