Pembrokeshire County Council wants to find out people’s views on its proposals to reduce some of the free swimming sessions it currently offers at local leisure centre swimming pools.
The Council has offered free swimming for over 60s and under-16s in the summer holidays for more than 10 years, thanks to a grant from the Welsh Government.
However, this February, the Welsh Government cut the grant for the scheme – called the National Free Swimming Initiative – by just over 20%.
As a result, the Council is proposing to reduce some sessions, as outlined in the table below.
The Welsh Government provides local authorities with criteria which set out the minimum amount of free access to swimming they must provide.
Pembrokeshire Leisure has always provided more than the minimum required and the new proposals would continue to provide over and above the minimum criteria.
“We have tried to reduce the impact of these funding cuts on our customers as much as possible, as we know how much people value free swimming,” said Cllr Elwyn Morse, Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and Leisure.
“For example, we are proposing that two popular free general swimming sessions – those for the over-60s, and for disabled people – will remain the same.
“Other sessions are proposed to changes and we urge anyone interested to get in touch to let us know their views.”
For more information on all the proposed changes, please see the table below.
You can respond to the proposals via the County Council’s website at www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/haveyoursay
If you don’t have access to the internet, please phone our Contact Centre on 01437 764551 to request a copy of the consultation document.
The deadline for responses is Friday 12th June 2015.
| Minimum Required | Current provision | Proposed Provision | |
| Under-16s
Free Swims |
Min 7 hrs per week during school holidays throughout the county | 2 hours per day per facility during school holidays | 1 hr per day per facility Mon-Fri school holidays |
| Under-16s Structured Sessions | Min 7 hrs structured activity during school holidays throughout the county | Up to 5 hrs per wk per facility during school holidays | Up to 3 hrs per wk per facility during school holidays |
| Adult / Child Weekends
Sessions |
2 hrs per weekend for children | 2 hrs weekends x 52 weeks per facility for children & adults when accompanying a child | As current but adults pay £1 per session (when accompanying a child) |
| Disability | 1 hr per wk during school holidays per Authority | 63 hrs of provision during school holidays | As current |
| Summer Sailing Provision (Onboard Scheme) in partnership with Pembrokeshire Adventure Centre | No Requirement | Summer sailing provision | Discontinued |
| Over 60s Free Swims | All public sessions outside school holidays | All public sessions Currently 61 hrs (on average) per wk per facility x 52 wks | As current |
| Over 60s
Structured Sessions |
1 hr per wk per facility outside school holidays | Unlimited access to all structured sessions all year at all facilities.
Current provision of 23 hrs per wk (13 hrs Aquafit + 10 swimming lessons) |
Access to 1 free session per wk all year. All other sessions at subsidised rate of £2 per session
(Aquafit/lessons) |
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