No excuses: unless government acts, swimming will be threatened

We should be ashamed that there is less swimming now in primary schools than there was 30 years ago. Local authorities have no legal duty to support recreational activities in the way that they do for libraries or social services. This must change. Unless and until swimming pools are given the same statutory protection as libraries the desecration will continue. If I have a right to borrow a book free from a library why do I not have the right to swim free in a public swimming pool?Swimming is one of the easiest and most enjoyable sports to participate in and, unlike other sports, it was singled out to be mandatory in primary schools because, as well as being a superb recreational activity, it is critical in reducing the risk of drowning. So by the age of 11 children must be taught to swim competently for at least 25 metres. However, unless your child happens to attend one of the few primary schools with a pool the swimming experience will vary radically. As pools have closed schools have had to travel further and scramble for pool time.It is unfair just to blame local authorities. They have seen the mixed messages coming out of Whitehall. On one hand swimming is compulsory, on the other OFSTED doesn't inspect and monitor with the same priority as the rest of the curriculum. They have seen 'Building Schools for the Future' create new schools minus the pool that was in the old school. Even specialist sports colleges rarely have a pool and it is never part of the criteria laid down that this should be a high priority. The Government must make the political decision that swimming is important enough to be supported across departments and recognise that warm words do not keep pools open. The millions of pounds spent on producing endless glossy documents and health strategies in the battle against obesity by Government make little mention of sporting activities yet swimming is one of the best all-round sports for our health. So why are we not using more of the Department of Health's money to invest in preventative health schemes through swimming?The Department of Culture, Media and Sport deliberately confuses private leisure pools and hotel pools with public pools to give a dishonest picture of what is really happening. Those of us who ask questions on closures are answered with doubtful statistics. But, as the Daily Telegraph shows today, it is the Government who are complacent and now they will have to pay the price.Either there is an acceptance that the money will be found and will be treated as an investment in health or the Prime Minister should admit that the era of accessible, good quality swimming pools is over and that he is abandoning affordable swimming for the majority. Surely no one wants that to be a legacy of London 2012?

Contact one of these, or email dtsport@telegraph.co.uk if you are campaigning to save your pool. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/poolingresources http://www.londonpoolscampaign.com/ http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/lidos/