Over 60s won’t have to splash their cash

Free swimming for young and old starts tomorrow — but it will still cost them £2 to register.

April Fools Day marks the start of free swimming for those aged under 18 and over 60 at Oldham’s pools, under a Government-funded scheme.

They will join millions of people who will be able to make a splash without cash in hundreds of local authority swimming pools across England. But swimmers will not simply be able to turn up and get in free. First they have to fill in a registration form available from pool receptions, or on www.ocla ctive.co.uk and click on the free swimming links.

For a fee of £2, swimmers will get a swipe card posted to their home address. Those under 16 have to be accompanied by a parent or guardian to register.

And Oldham Community Leisure, which operates Oldham pools, says that, without a swipe card, under 16s and over 60s will have to pay full price to swim.

The cards are necessary to feed information back to the government about the success of the scheme.

The initiative, which starts just in time for the Easter school holidays is for a pilot period of three months, possibly extended to up to two years.

A £140 million Government initiative being run in partnership with local councils — including 41 in the North-West — aims to create a healthier, more active, nation and help get two million people more active by 2012.

The Government is investing £5.4 million over the next year to bring free swimming to the North- West.

Mike Tait, OCL operations’ manager, said the cards only apply for general public swimming sessions.

He added: “Excluded are adult-only, early morning, splash sessions, Swim4 Fitness, swimming lessons and wet fitness classes.

“During busy times the pools, once full, will be operated on time controlled sessions. ”

All other rules also apply — under eights must be accompanied by someone 18 or over, and all non-swimmers must identify themselves to staff.