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The Prosser Perspective.... a weekly column from Dover and Deal MP Gwyn Prosser

12 June 2008

When I was working on Dover’s Cross Channel Ferries I used to enjoy cycling back and fore between my home in River and Eastern Docks for most of the twelve years I sailed with, what was then called Sealink.

These days my cycling is limited to occasional early morning recreational rides in Dover and trips between my London flat and the House of Commons – supplemented once a year by the highly popular Parliamentary Bike Ride across the Capital which took place today.

The event is organised by the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group where I’ve been a member for over ten years and our purpose is promote the use of bicycles as mode of transport and to raise the profile and status of cycling both inside the House and in the wider community.

We are also a campaigning group and over the years we have pressed for safer and additional cycle routes, more accommodation on trains to store cycles and measures to stem the number of cyclists knocked over by foreign lorries turning left.

The group has been lobbying Ministers for more funding to promote safer cycling and we are delighted that the Government has awarded £140 million to our colleagues at ‘Cycling England’ which will help half a million children cycle safely and encourage a generation of adults to rediscover their bikes through the Bikeability initiative.

Bikeability is the 21st Century cycling proficiency test which is designed to give children and young people the skills and confidence to use their bikes on today’s busy roads and I was one of the intrepid Members of Parliament who volunteered to be put through my paces on the learning course today.

Staying with the theme of physical activity and healthy leisure – I’m also pleased to welcome another £140 million government investment in free swimming which has been announced this week via the Challenge Fund. The money will allow councils like Dover to develop the work they are doing in extending free swimming for over 60’s and under 16’s in my constituency.

The announcement means that local councils will be able to either develop or extend any offers they might already have in place and allow those local authorities who aren’t offering free swimming the opportunity to do so.

Whether you are young or old, swimming is something people can do as a family that is fun and also good for your health. I will be speaking to my local authority and working with them closely to see how we can make sure people in Dover and Deal can benefit from this fund.

The additional funding marks the first stage in Labour’s aspiration to deliver free swimming for everyone. This is a challenging target, but in the run up to the Olympics in 2012 we want everyone to get into the spirit of the Games and have the opportunity to get fit and stay fit without shelling out costly entry fees.

Perhaps it’s time to launch an All Party Parliamentary Swimming Group