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

2 April 2009

Over a thousand local swimming pools started offering free swimming this week for people aged 60 and over, and for children aged 16 and under. Four out of every five local councils in England – almost 300 - have signed up to provide free swimming for over 60s, with more than 200 councils are offering it for young people under 16 as well.

The Government’s £140 million scheme will allow more than twenty million people to swim free and help deliver our promise to get two million people more active by the time London hosts the Olympics and Paralympics in 2012.

On Tuesday I helped launch the national scheme with Ministers with Mark Foster, the Olympic swimmer and former world record holder in Westminster. It was Mark who famously carried the British Team’s Union Jack at the Opening Ceremony of last year's Beijing Olympic Games and he’s a great advocate of our free swimming initiative.

Our own District Council in Dover has taken advantage of Government funding for the over 60s and I congratulate them on that but for some reason they’ve elected not to take up the opportunity of free swimming for our young people.

More than 200 local authorities have opted to give free swimming to both groups which has enabled those ambitious councils to receive a share of the £10 million capital to spend on modernising their pools. Those communities will be left with a big legacy from free swimming - not just of more people being more healthy and active, but with £60 million going to upgrade or build new facilities.

Swimming for free is a real help for senior citizens and for young people – and, of course, a boon for mums and dads too. And it’s a great way to get people active, with a unique appeal to people of all ages.

Over 3 million people go swimming every week, making it the most popular participation sport in the country. Swimming is one of the most easily accessible physical activities out there and that’s why we have invested almost £250 million of public money into swimming since we took office - more than in any other sport

The health benefits of someone swimming are clear – it is a low risk, low barrier sport which enables young and old people to exercise at their own pace. Given the Labour Government’s concerns about obesity levels, swimming is the ideal sport for children to engage in at a young age . It is the perfect sport to get children active, thereby increasing their levels of ability and their opportunity to lead a healthy life with the likelihood that they will keep their passion for the activity throughout adulthood – and that’s why I’m so disappointed that Dover District Council haven’t been more ambitious and extended free swimming to our young people.

Anyway, I know many over 60s, like me enjoy making a splash in the pool, and from today I hope that millions more will take advantage of our free swimming initiative and be able to take the plunge.