Every single child aged 16 or under in Telford could soon take advantage of free swimming for the next two years as part of a nationwide campaign to boost the health of the nation.
Officials hope it will encourage youngsters to take exercise more often and help to tackle the town’s growing problem of child obesity.
Pensioners, people with disabilities and those on low incomes can already take the plunge for free in the borough.
And Telford & Wrekin Council is now set to extend the privilege to thousands more young people.
The recommendation of free swimming for under-16s from April next year is expected to be approved by cabinet on November 10.
Grant
Offiicers say in a report to cabinet that the Government has committed grant funding to encourage councils to provide free swimming to the over-60s and young people of 16 and under.
The ultimate aim is to encourage a move towards universal free swimming around the country.
Telford & Wrekin will collect a total of £130,352 over the next two years, with some £42,000 for the over-60s and £88,000 for the under-16s.
The authority already provides free swimming for people over 60 and to a range of other groups including the disabled, children under five, those on income support and families who receive free school meals.
As over-60s already get the concession, this means there will be spare cash to extend free swimming to other groups if desired.
This could include free swimming for older teenagers and for family and parent and toddler sessions. Officers are investigating this possibility.
Welcomes
Councillor Steve Bentley, cabinet member for community services, said: “The council welcomes the Government’s free swimming announcement which will build upon the free swimming arrangements that already exist within the borough.
“It is hoped that with this support, even more people will be able to use the council pools and to enjoy the many benefits that swimming brings.”
The new scheme for under-16s would operate at the council’s four swimming pools in Telford until at least 2010/11.
And an “in principle” agreement has been reached with Interserve, which operates the pool at Hadley Learning Community, to participate as well.