Last summer in 2009, SEMILONG.ORG reported two fitness schemes were being run locally. There was the Fit For A Fiver, which offered very much discounted memberships at the Trilogy Gyms and Leisure Centres, and the Free Swimming Iniative for the under 16′s and over 60′s at the same centres at Danes Camp, The Mounts and Lings Forum.
Swimming pool attendances have been declining steadily for decades but these schemes reversed that. Interest in the free swimming iniative went well past all expectations. Long queues formed outside the swimming pools, whilst extra staff had to be drafted in to help cope and pool managers had to draw up new timetables to fit people in.
With the huge take up of the offer, Northampton Borough Council, which owns the Centres, expected to make a loss. The extra chemicals, extra life guards on duty and other sundries contributed to £36,000 of the £127,000 out of the ‘council’s swimming budget’ (year 2009-2010) However, after Government grants were factored in, along with £27,500 from things like locker fees, Northampton Borough Council actually made a profit of £47,125.
Tory & Lib Dem’s are looking to end the free swimming initiative in their first round of cost cutting measures. Ah well, it was possibly too good to last eh !!
What makes cutting the free swimming scheme so awful is that it is so badly needed and also so popular. The health benefits of it for the younger and older generations must surely outweigh the cost? Wouldn’t you think? Also the fact that it makes a profit should count for something.. However, the phrase all that counts can’t be counted comes to mind..
Ending the free swimming for under 16′s and over 60′s was unfortunately always on the cards. The country is in dire straits and the Government needs to cut cut cut. It wouldnt be surprising if many services provided by grant from national and local government is done away with. brian, you said about three sports centres being transferred into a a trust. Not sure yet if this is a good thing as I recall reading many sports centres have tried this and ending up closing particularly in Wales. Don’t knwo, I hope it saves ours.
I’ve just read the news that the government will be ending the free swimming at the end of July, saving just £40M.
I just can’t believe it.
Hopefully our local centres will find a way to fund it for a little longer beyond the 31st July.
As a member of the customer forum at Mounts Baths, I am aware that government funding for free swimming was awarded for 2 years, this is due to end 31st March 2011.
During this period the council will be encouraged to find a way to absorb the costs of offering free swimming so this can continue beyond March 2011.
There are many factors to take into considderation as to wheather it will continue or not. One being that the current cabinet of the borough council agreed to offload the 3 sports centres into trust. They will continue to operate as a business and a committee of volunteers will be formed to oversee their management. This new committee will ultimately decide if the free swimming continues, but that will be based on finances.
Hopefully, with the centres being managed by a public committee, they will be able to secure more funding from opportunities that would not be available to a council body.
Lets hope the public pools of Northampton will remain half full and not half empty.