Splashing - free swims extension benefit hundreds

1,747 people have benefited from a 5 week extension to the service.

Fusion, Southwark Council's leisure centre partner, agreed to cover the cost of running the scheme over the summer holidays which enabled locals across the borough access to pools without charge.

Almost one thousand swimmers aged 60 plus and nearly eight hundred youngsters have enjoyed the free swim facility over the 5 weeks since central government funding came to an end on July 31.

Southwark council and Fusion introduced free swimming in April 2009 with funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. But in June the government announced that it would no longer fund the scheme.

It would cost the authority a considerable amount of money to keep the service going, and at a time when the government has announced that departments may face upwards of 25 per cent cuts, the council cannot afford to take money from other services.

On September 6th, when free swims come to an end, the council will introduce a scheme through which under-16s and over-60s will be able to enjoy discounted swimming fees of 60p. To take advantage of the reduced charge, swimmers will need to become a member of the Leisure Axess card for which there is a payment of £2.80 per year.

Councillor Veronica Ward, Cabinet Member for culture, leisure, sport and the Olympics, said: "I would like to thank Fusion and the council's leisure team for making this happen. It's good to know that almost two thousand of our residents have benefited."

"The government's decision to axe the service was extremely disappointing. Despite this, Southwark council is doing its utmost to keep swimming affordable. We know how valuable it is to both young and older people across the borough in terms of a cheap, fun day out. Not only that, it goes a long way to building a culture of healthy living as a means of tackling obesity and reducing isolation and social exclusion."