Trowbridge mum’s Facebook fight to save free swim sessions (From Wiltshire Times)

Trowbridge mum’s Facebook fight to save free swim sessions

3:00pm Friday 30th July 2010 in News

Trowbridge mum Jolene Powell has set up a Facebook group in protest against central government abolishing free swimming for children and the over 60s.

The 33-year-old was annoyed when she found out that free swimming sessions for youngsters and over 60s were being abolished at the end of this week.

She said: “I think free swimming should be kept as the government is encouraging us to keep fit but how can we do that if they keep making cuts?

“My kids love swimming and it is something we like to do as a family. My 15-year-old son is very reluctant to leave the computer but the one thing he will do is swimming.

“It’s an extra cost for families and we have been three times this week already.”

Since she set up the Save Our Free Swimming page earlier this week, it has been announced that free swimming is being extended until autumn.

However, Miss Powell thinks that free swimming should be kept after that and central government cuts made elsewhere.

“They could even offer half price swimming to children and over 60s,” she said. “I will be keeping the Facebook page up as I think they should scrap these plans to get rid of free swimming.”

The cost of free swimming across Wiltshire is £300,000 annually. Many councils have stopped the free sessions, but Wiltshire will continue to run the scheme over the summer, after NHS Wiltshire stepped in to help with the cost.

Council leader Jane Scott: "What we want to do now is to get information to see who is using the scheme."