Swim charge U-turn

Swim charge U-turn

1 July 2015

PARENTS have scored a dramatic victory in a campaign against a council clamp-down on private swimming lessons in Downpatrick.

Newry Mourne and Down Council was forced into a U-turn on Monday evening following weeks of lobbying by parents opposed to a 

hike in charges for one-to-one lessons.

Nine hundreds parents joined a Facebook group established in April to fight against the new charges, which were announced alongside plans to totally ban private group lessons.

The changes were part of a clamp-down on private swimming enterprise in Down Leisure Centre, which the council wanted to reduce in favour of its own public swimming programmes.

However, there was a huge outcry to the proposals with hundreds claiming their children had not fared well in the council-run schemes or that the council’s group sessions were unsuitable for children with special needs.

There was particular anger about plans to introduce a new door tax of £4.80 to increase the council’s revenue from the private enterprise.

Parents said they were perplexed by the council’s determination to make it more difficult for children to acquire the potentially lifesaving skill and angry that the council wanted to profit from parents taking he initiative to ensure their children learn to swim properly.

As the campaign gathered momentum, parents and instructors were invited to make a presentation to the council about their concerns.

Mrs Aurla McLoughlin, from Downpatrick, represented parents and instructors at Monday evening’s council meeting.

She successfully persuaded councillors to accept a new business model, which would ensure the council recouped potential losses from private lessons without penalising parents.

This model, which was unanimously accepted by councillors following a few amendments, means:

instructors’ annual fee to the council will be raised from £53.15 to £273.15

Pupils and their parents will no longer pay an entrance fee to the pool

Instructors will pay £4.75 per lesson to the council except for less-abled pupils, who will be exempt from this charge

The council will also bring forward proposals to promote the use of the swimming pool outside normal working hours

Lessons can be booked up to eight weeks in advance with a maximum of five teachers in the pool at any time

Private group lessons will no longer be allowed, except for under-fours

Mrs McLaughlin, who had been part of a special council working group tasked to find a resolution to the issue, said she was delighted with the result following months of negotiations.

“The council had made a mistake in its approach when it said it was going to enforce these rules,” she said.

“This has been a true democratic process as it is thanks to the lobbying of the parents that the instructors got a voice and it is through extensive negotiations that we found a resolution for all.

“This should send out a message that our new council is pro-active and willing to listen for the greater good of the community. It is a success story for everyone involved.”