Swimming clubs face 'cash crisis'

[Chris]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_west/6704229.stm

Nice to see that the health and fitness of our children is still low on the list of council priorities.

I'm assuming that this isn't just a problem in Wales??

Chris

[Linny]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_west/6704229.stm

Nice to see that the health and fitness of our children is still low on the list of council priorities.

I'm assuming that this isn't just a problem in Wales??

ChrisWell in a way I'm not surprised.

If the swimmers only pay £1 for 45 minute lessons and the teachers are paid (albeit only expenses) I can't see how the hire of the pool could be anything like covering even basic costs. Thing is swimming lessons makes more money than anything else in a pool's programme and if it is the local Club that is running them where is the Council going to get its income from to be able to provide the subsidy that the Club wants?

We can't have it all ways, the money has to come from somewhere.

[NotVeryFast]

We can't have it all ways, the money has to come from somewhere.
Yes, but where is the money going to? Every year we pay more tax (bigger increase than the rate of inflation), yet they always claim to be under increasing financial pressure. Where does all our money go to, do they just burn it on a big fire or something?!

[Wildswimmer]

Where does all our money go to, do they just burn it on a big fire or something?!

It goes to pay for ever more bureaucrats on ever increasing salaries. And someone's got to pay for all those town-twinning visits and all the other management jollies.

You don't honestly expect local authorities to spend our tax money on we great unwashed? Surely not?

Wildswimmer Pete

[Spidey]

Yes, but where is the money going to?

Do you really want an answer ... I could go on with this one, but will not, after all who would benefit - damm I said it, well part of it.

[adamlelean]

I thought wales had free swimming for under 16's and over 65's. It seems crazy to then charge a club teaching under 16's to swim.

If the public swimming is free couldn't they just turn up to a public session, and then get instruction.

[MummyJ]

we tried that - they say that if a coach is on poolside then you must hire the lane, so the 'under 16 go free' doesnt apply! we thought of putting a coach on the balcony - but were scared he might fall over if he got too excited with the training!!

[broomhillsaved]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_west/6704229.stm

Nice to see that the health and fitness of our children is still low on the list of council priorities.

I'm assuming that this isn't just a problem in Wales??

Chris

No, Chris, it certainly isn't! East Herts District Council have just decided to close one of their pools at weekends, on the grounds that it's not good value for money to keep the pool open just for leisure swimmers!!! Luckily the Scrutiny Committee have "called in" this decision and the issue will be debated on June 27th 2007.

See recent messages on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/poolingresources on Swansea/Waltham Forest/East Herts etc etc