Free swimming to continue in Wiltshire- for now
By MirandaBaker | Thursday, July 29, 2010, 12:44
Thanks to continued financial support from NHS Wiltshire, Wiltshire Council is able to carry on providing free swimming until the end of September, despite the Government withdrawing its funding.
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Picture by Accent on Eclectic.
People aged 60 or over and 16 and under can continue to swim for free in Wiltshire at any council-run leisure centre for this period.
The Government recently announced its funding for free swimming would stop on July 31st.
The previous Government introduced the swimming initiative and NHS Wiltshire provided additional funding to support the free swimming sessions and lessons.
The council will review the future funding commitment as part of its budget setting process in the autumn.
Stuart Wheeler, cabinet member for leisure, said: “I’m really pleased we can carry on providing free swimming across the county during the summer holidays. Our excellent partnership working with NHS Wiltshire has resulted in us tackling a range of health related issues including getting more people, more active, more often.”
Maggie Rae, joint director for public health, said: “I am delighted that NHS Wiltshire can fulfil its financial commitment to this valuable scheme and that Wiltshire Council can use this funding to continue free swimming sessions until the end of September, benefiting many young and older people in our communities.”
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