16/09/08 Free swimming for over 60s and under 16s a possibility in Welwyn Hatfield

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council has applied for central government funding to offer free swimming in the borough for the over 60s.

If the bid is successful the scheme could start in April 2009 and last for two years.

All councils have been invited to apply for a share of the £140 million investment into a free swimming scheme announced in June by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. The scheme forms part of the government’s aim to ensure a lasting sporting legacy from the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympics Games.

The council fully supports the free swimming initiative for the over 60s to help promote good health and wellbeing in the borough, and is pleased to apply for the funding.

As part of the bid the council has also expressed an interest in extending the programme to under 16s in the borough. A decision, on whether to submit a further bid for funding for free swimming to the under 16s will be discussed at Cabinet on 7 October 2008. The deadline for this submission is 15 October 2008.

Councillor Clare Berry, Executive Member for Community Services, said: “This would be a very welcome programme for the borough; it would provide a great service to a lot of people. We offered free swimming during the school holidays and it proved very successful, being able to offer this again for the coming years would be excellent.”

With help from the Welwyn Hatfield Play Partnership and the Big Lottery Fund, 1400 schoolchildren attended free swimming at Hatfield Swim Centre during the school holiday.

Finesse Leisure, the council’s partner in providing sports facilities and services throughout the borough, has announced that the free school holiday swimming programme will return during the 2008 October half-term, 27 to 31, and during the Christmas break, 22 to 24 December 2008, 29 December 2008 to 2 January 2009 excluding New Year’s Day.

Mike Barlow, Managing Director of Finesse Leisure said: “Finesse Leisure was delighted to have secured funding to offer free swimming for young people for four weeks during the school summer holidays. The scheme was so popular that we have extended the offer to the October half term and Christmas break.”