Young swimmers were celebrating this week when it was announced that Steve Bullock, Labour Mayor of Lewisham, would save a free swimming scheme that enables under-16s to swim for free in pools across Lewisham.
The move has been taken despite the announcement by the Liberal-Conservative Coalition that it was cancelling the scheme early. This would have meant that Lewisham’s young people being denied access to free swimming over the summer holidays.
Steve Bullock said, “In financial terms, the benefits of free swimming far outweigh the costs. It was a hasty decision by the government in the first place to stop free swimming just before the summer holidays so I’m announcing that in Lewisham, under-16s will be able to swim for free in our borough until the schools go back in September and possibly beyond that.”
Councillor Chris Best, Cabinet Member for Community Services, said “Times are tough for families across Lewisham and parents want to know that swimming in Lewisham’s four pools in Deptford, Downham, Ladywell and Sydenham is an activity for their children that won’t cost a penny.”
Councillor Alan Hall, Chair of Lewisham Labour Group, said, “Thousands of young people in our borough have been swimming for free and it’s absolutely the right thing to extend this scheme through the summer holidays. This was a spiteful cut from the new con-dem government.”
The Parkwood Leisure Centres involved; The Bridge Leisure Centre, Ladywell Leisure Centre and Wavelengths Leisure Centre, are delighted at the benefits this announcement provides for their customers.