Swimming pool closures threat younger individuals drowning

Young persons are prone to drowning due to the “terrifying” variety of swimming swimming pools which have closed within the final decade, a union says.

A examine, carried out by the GMB union, signifies 500 public swimming pools have closed since 2010, with nearly half shutting because the pandemic. A coalition, together with the Local Government Association (LGA), is now calling for renewed funding.

A report from the coalition, stated 30% of youngsters in Year 7 couldn’t swim 25 metres confidently, which was up from 27% in 2017/18.

The union’s examine stated council-owned swimming swimming pools had closed in London, West and East Midlands, south west, south east and north east England, Wales, Scotland and Yorkshire.

“Learning to swim is a basic life skill, splashing in a pool is a fundamental childhood joy – two things being potentially now denied to thousands of youngsters,” he stated.

“Taken to its extreme, it leaves young people at risk of drowning.

“It’s going to take years to restore the injury the Tories did, however Labour’s truthful funding assessment should begin funding native authorities correctly once more.”

The coalition calling for renewed funding also includes the Chief Cultural and Leisure Officers Association, Community Leisure UK, Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers, Swim England, and ukactive.

They said funding should be invested in facilities people rely on every day to stay active and healthy.

A spokesperson for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said it had pledged £400m to support grassroots facilities, and it was now working with the sport and leisure sector to help get people active.

“We will be sure that this funding promotes well being, wellbeing and group cohesion and helps to take away the limitations to bodily exercise for under-represented teams,” they said.

The coalition’s report said 60% of swimming pools were beyond their expected lifespan or in need of refurbishment.

“Local communities depend on sport and leisure amenities every single day, whether or not it’s swimming for the household or going to the health club,” said Liz Green, chairwoman of the LGA’s culture, tourism and sport board.

“The advantages to each bodily and psychological well being might be life-changing, but with out pressing funding we threat dropping these altogether.”