Public anger growing over swimming hikes

Public anger growing over swimming hikes

3 June 2015

MASSIVE community opposition to a clamp-down on private swimming lessons in Downpatrick could force the new super council into a dramatic u-turn.

In one of the largest public responses to a council proposal ever seen, almost 900 people have joined an online campaign to demonstrate against plans for a £4.80 tax on children entering Down Leisure Centre for private lessons in addition to the normal entrance rates, spectators fees and lesson charges.

The proposed tax is part of a concerted bid by Newry, Mourne and Down Council to force out private swimming tutors from its leisure centres. Group classes taken by the tutors at the Down Leisure Centre will finish at the end of June and council officials want to impose the tax on children who have a one-to-one lesson with a tutor.

Instead, the council wants children to learn to swim in lessons conducted by its own instructors even though there are too few of them to cope with demand. All private swimming lessons ended in Newry Leisure Centre last year but a huge waiting list of almost 600 children has built up because of a shortage of qualified council instructors.

A similar policy was introduced at Banbridge Leisure Centre recently, which is operated by Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council, and a waiting list of almost 300 children has built up.

In a bid to stop the council pricing the one-to-one lessons out of the market, local parents have mounted a major campaign which this week forced councillors to pledge to look again at the policy.

Over 100 parents and children picketed a meeting of Newry, Mourne and Down Council on Monday night urging councillors not to rubber stamp a recommendation that the £4.80 tax be imposed.

After a one hour debate the protestors were successful and the councillors agreed to hold a special meeting to debate the issue of one-to-one private tuition. Crucially, the meeting will also look at how the private sector can be accommodated in council-run swimming pools.

Among those at the picket line on Monday were Ballykinlar mother Alisa Keane and Annacloy mum Lydia Hayes, who are among those spearheading the community campaign against the changes.

Both women, whose children avail of private lessons in Downpatrick, said they were angry and bemused by the council’s attempts to wipe out private lessons which hundreds of children attend every week. They said they were particularly confused considering the lengthy waiting lists other pools now have as a result of the changes.

“Many children require one-to-one or one-to-two lessons for many reasons and parents deserve the right to choose,” said Mrs Hayes. “Many people feel the council’s lessons are not successful and although it may be more expensive to send children privately, the results are often quicker.

“That is why we have put so much time and energy into this campaign.”

Mrs Keane said she was delighted to learn the council had once again postponed a final decision on the clamp-down and said parents were now hopeful the council would properly listen to public concerns and rethink its move.

“This move is clearly unpopular, the numbers at the lobby show that,” she said. “While the whole pricing structure may need to be looked at, I am confident there is a fairer way in which this can be done.’

Mrs Keane added: “Certainly at Monday night’s meeting councillors have shown signs of a turnaround. By allowing us to make our case to the council we hope it will now make a full u-turn.”