‘Free’ swims will cost us £135k

COUNCILS could be left with huge bills after the Government fails to provide enough cash to allow free swimming for under 16s, the Tories claim.

Conservative research into the Government’s Olympic legacy plans to offer free swimming for the under-16s last night revealed a £22 million shortfall in funding.

It was announced that £25 million per year would be allocated for two years — shared between councils across the country for the provision. But £11.1 million per year extra cash will be needed to be found from town halls up and down the country to plug the hole, according to research by the Conservatives.

It will cost Oldham council £135,125 every year to implement the scheme.

Shadow culture secretary Jeremy Hunt said: “It looks like hard-pressed councils and council taxpayers will have to foot the bill if Labour is to fulfil its promises of free swimming for the over-60s and under-16s.”

“With serious funding gaps affecting all parts of the Government’s swimming announcement, it is clear that the headline feature of their Olympic legacy plans has belly-flopped.”

Cabinet Member for Community Services and Housing, Councillor John McCann said the local authority had responded to the Government saying it was willing “in principle” to bid for the grant funding being made available through the free swimming initiative for the under 16s.

He added: “We welcome all initiatives designed to help people live a healthier, more balanced lifestyle, but we have to be satisfied that the sums add up.

“We have therefore told the Government that we wish to bid for the funding in principle, provided we can make up the funding shortfall with other partner bodies.

Nonetheless, we are extremely concerned that the Government will not continue the funding after two years leaving the council with no choice but to withdraw from offering free swimming at that time.

“We are therefore seeking to discuss this matter further with Government before making any final commitment to participate in this particular scheme.”

But a spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said: “We were always clear to local authorities that the under 16s free swimming pot, of £50 million over two years, was a challenge fund and that councils may have to find revenue from their own budgets or other sources to help maximise the offer — 300 out of 354 local authorities have confirmed they will participate in the over 60s free swimming offer which shows the desire there is to help get the nation active.”