On the 17 June 2010 the Government announced that it was withdrawing funding for the Free Swimming programme for swimmers aged 60 years and over and 16 years and under. The two year initiative was due to run in the District from 1 April 2009 until 31 March 2011, but the funding has been cancelled from 1 August 2010 as part of the Government’s review of spending.
The District Council is not in a position to meet the ongoing costs of the programme without Government funding, which amounts to approximately £123,000 per year, so the initiative will have to be withdrawn.
To minimise the impact in the short-term we are extending the free swimming programme for those aged 16 years and under until the end of the summer holidays and continuing free swimming for the under 5’s on an ongoing basis.
After 31 July 2010, swimmers aged 60 years and over will have to pay the normal adult price to swim, unless they are in receipt of pension credit or get a discount as part of the 50+ swimming programme.
After 31 August 2010, swimmers aged 16 years and under will have to pay the normal junior price (half the adult price), unless they are under 5, in which case they will continue to swim for free.
The free swimming initiative will be available, until the dates above, at Harpenden Swimming Pool, Townsend Swimming Pool (during public casual swimming sessions only) and Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre. In order to benefit from the initiative, swimmers should complete the appropriate registration form and take it to their local participating swimming pool (registration forms can also be obtained directly from the participating swimming pools.