Medway Council: Lib Dems fight plans to scrap free swimming

Under-16s and over-60s currently enjoy free swimming in Medway

A petition against Medway Council's plan to scrap free swimming for under-16s and over-60s has been signed by more than 260 people.

The Liberal Democrats have called on the authority to reverse the proposal.

The council's budget for 2024/25 includes proposed rises in parking charges and the removal of free swimming sessions.

The ruling Labour group said it was working on price concessions to try to save families' money.

The Lib Dems said the proposals would increase the cost of a swimming trip for a a family of four from £14.30 to £25.50.

Stuart Bourne, the Lib Dems' parliamentary candidate for Gillingham and Rainham, said: "By stopping the free child swimming, the Labour council is hurting the poorest in Medway who are desperately trying to keep their kids fit and healthy.

"At the bare minimum we would like to see free child swimming passes given for all children who are entitled to free school meals."

At the cabinet meeting on 13 February portfolio holder for heritage, culture and leisure Harinder Mahil said he regretted the difficult decisions which had to be made to balance the budget.

However, he said the council was exploring options to increase concessions for children to swim which would mean children would pay £1 for swimming when accompanied by a fee-paying adult.

Swimming concessions in Medway are under threat in the authority's budget

In a statement the Labour and Co-operative Group said: "Currently, the budget we have set, which aims to safeguard all of our leisure facilities, requires exceptional financial support to be agreed from the government.

"No one in Labour and Co-operative fought to get elected last May to take away free swimming concessions.

"However, we have had to make extremely difficult decisions to close the budget gap and are pleased we have been able to continue to offer alternative concessions for under-16s.

"We also recognise that across the country around 400 council-owned swimming pools have been closed since 2010."

The Medway Lib Dems said they would submit their petition to the full council meeting on 29 February when the budget will be voted on.

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