WARWICK District Council has been accused of failing the area’s children after almost 60 per cent of UK councils offered free swimming to those under 16.
MP James Plaskitt said the council was in the “miserable minority” in not taking up the scheme which would have given them a share of a £25million government fund to revamp swimming facilities.
The initiative was part of a government drive to provide free swimming for all in time for the 2012 London Olympic Games.
It required the council to stump up half the annual running costs with the government paying the other half.
Of 354 eligible councils, 208 (59 per cent) have now signed up Mr Plaskitt, Labour MP for Leamington and Warwick, said the district had missed a huge opportunity.
He said: “We provided the incentive by giving them access to the £25million pot so it was a win-win situation for the council.
“I understand they would have needed to find roughly £30,000 to provide the free swimming and yet the council has £3.5million put aside in cash reserves.
“I can’t understand how they can say they can’t afford it because they don’t appear to be strapped for cash. They have lost an opportunity to revamp facilities, it’s irrational.”
The government initiative was launched by culture secretary Andy Burnham last June and also included £80million to provide free swimming for those over 60, which the council consented to.
It aimed to provide a range of health benefits and help combat child obesity by using the 2012 Games to create a nation of water-lovers.
The move was rounded on by district councillors at the time, who claimed it was worthy but under-funded and “another witless initiative from Whitehall”.
But Mr Plaskitt said the take-up rate proves the council was wrong to reject it.
“The swimming for over-60s was fully paid for so they wouldn’t have to put a penny in, and for the under-16s we said we would pay roughly half.
“I think it’s desperately sad the council didn’t have the imagination to see what they could do with this. Unfortunately they have decided to go in with the miserable minority.”
Warwick District Council was unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.
Coventry News 
