Free swimming sessions for the under 16s and over 60s will cease at Daventry Leisure Centre on August 30, 2010.
Why is free swimming ending in Daventry District?
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) recently announced that government funding for the national free swimming programme for under 16s and over 60s would end on July 31, 2010.
Since its launch in April 2009, local authorities nationwide – including Daventry District Council - have used this government money to enable them to subsidise the cost of the free swimming initiative.
The District Council, along with many other local authorities, is facing severe financial challenges, and therefore without the government funding, the scheme will have to end.
Why is the scheme at Daventry Leisure Centre continuing until the end of August if the government funding ends on July 31?
Daventry District Councillors met recently to discuss future options for free swimming in the district, following the recent announcement by the DCMS.
They strongly felt that, with the summer months among the busiest times at Daventry Leisure Centre and many residents of all ages enjoying the pool, free swimming should continue until the end of August. In addition, the scheme had been advertised and withdrawing the initiative at the end of July would have cost more than continuing the scheme during the school holidays.
Therefore Council agreed to fund the initiative until August 31, at which time the scheme will cease, with options reviewed on the impact early next year.
Is free swimming continuing in other places outside Daventry District?
Not all authorities took the decision to deliver free swimming. In relation to those areas that did, each local authority will be making its own decisions as to whether to continue the national free swimming scheme without the government subsidy.
Indications from neighbouring local authorities show they are in a similar position to Daventry District and likely to extend free swimming through the summer months, ceasing in the autumn.
Although Daventry District has carried a free swimming scheme for both under 16s and over 60s, some areas only run the scheme for one of these age groups.
How successful has the free swimming programme been in Daventry District?
Since the national initiative was launched on April 1 2009, a total of 55,411 free swims have been charted at Daventry Leisure Centre. In August last year, more than 5,000 free swims were recorded, emphasising the merit in extending the scheme for a further month this summer.
Are any other subsidised swimming schemes being planned?
There are currently no future plans to introduce an alternative subsidised swimming initiative at Daventry Leisure Centre, however all options will be reviewed again early next year.
Will the Council be reintroducing its free swimming for school holidays only?
In 2007 and 2008 the Council ran free swimming sessions for under 16s during the school holidays, one of the original success stories cited ahead of the Government introducing its national scheme in April last year. There are currently no future plans to reintroduce this initiative but all options will be reviewed again early next year.
What other low-cost sport and leisure schemes are available in Daventry District?
Daventry District Council works with a range of partners to provide a variety of low-cost activities, ranging from the Sport Unlimited scheme to school holidays programme. For more details visit www.daventrydc.gov.uk or phone the Sport & Leisure Team on 01327 871100.
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