What future for free swimming?
THERE are some interesting messages from Councillor Doug Dew, quoted in the article Council vetoes free swimming for youngsters (October 29) covering HDC s policy decisions regarding the allowance of free swimming for over 60s and not to accept fundin
THERE are some interesting messages from Councillor Doug Dew, quoted in the article "Council vetoes free swimming for youngsters" (October 29) covering HDC's policy decisions regarding the allowance of "free" swimming for over 60s and not to accept funding for under 17s.
Surely the two groups are already allocated different access times, so the excuse that more "non-paying" young swimmers would frighten the elderly doesn't make sense.
Turning down a grant of £86,000 of our national tax revenue to save the "huge gap" of £20,000 (less the £4,500 profit made from the over 60s subsidy) to publicly fund a healthy activity for children regardless of their circumstances seems mean-spirited to say the least.
Cllr Dew also revealingly tells us that the funding may disappear after a General Election. As a Tory who presumably anticipates victory, is he telling us that "free" swimming for any group could well disappear?
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TONY DUTTON
Weir Road
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