Grants could save our pools

10:20am Wednesday 20th August 2008

Comments (1)   Have your say »

Swimming pools are being closed or are under threat, despite calls for a change of mind by residents.

Blackpool Council put St George’s pool, Marton, under review months ago. I said at the time this meant the council intended to close it. Unfortunately I have been proved correct.

Yet the Government announced in June ‘Grants to councils will be available to allow FREE SWIMMING for all over 60s and under 16s’ and £140m has been allocated for this very purpose.

The Government is keen to encourage all councils and have contacted them to urge them to take up the grants offer.

All councils who agree to provide free swimming are entitled to an extra one-off capital grant, to improve, refurbish or modernise pools.

Many local authorities have already welcomed the opportunity to refurbish pools with this generous government support, so what is wrong with Blackpool Council? They should sensibly apply for these available grants.

One wonders at their obsession with pool closures. Don’t they realise the health benefits of swimming?

In 1990 a previous Tory council pulled down the Derby Baths in Blackpool and once again this shows the Tories know the cost of everything, but not the value.

Jack Croysdill Chairman Blackpool North and Cleveleys Labour Party