Bay MP Adrian Sanders has raised concerns over the lack of uptake in Devon of free swimming for under 16 year olds. A £140million pound Government initiative aimed at increasing swimming for young people and pensioners saw 291 councils sign up for free swimming for the over 60s.
80 of these councils have, however, opted out of providing free swimming for young people. These include Torbay, Exeter, South Hams, Teignbridge, Mid Devon, North Devon and West Devon. Plymouth council did decide to sign up for free swimming for the under 16s.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has been accused of providing a poor funding system for the scheme, it does not encourage councils to maintain or build pools, nor does it provide free lessons or pro-actively seek non swimmers to participate. Moreover, councils are reimbursed according to the number of young people and pensioners within their boundaries, whether the council has any swimming pools or not.
Adrian commented: “The funding provided by Government for this scheme is clearly inadequate and there have been many reservations over the usefulness of providing free swimming for people who mostly would have paid previously. If reformed and well marketed this could have been a great opportunity to get young people involved in healthy activities but unlike over 200 councils in the UK, Devon authorities have let youngsters down.”
“I will continue to lobby Government for better funding for Torbay, but we have already benefited from Sea Change money, a record increase in Government grant and now millions from Growth Points and local residents need to see the benefit from this.”
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