Swimming uproar as council is forced into retreat

Swimming uproar as council is forced into retreat

1 April 2015

A FURIOUS backlash against plans to clamp down on private swimming lessons in Down Leisure Centre has prompted an urgent council rethink.

Hundreds of parents have reacted angrily to news that private group lessons for children over four will be banned from Down Leisure Centre’s pool, while individual lessons will be subject to a significant hike in fees.

The recommendation, which includes the introduction of a new £4.85 tuition fee for children availing of private one-to-one lessons in addition to the normal charges, was made by a committee of Newry Mourne and Down Council last week and was due to be ratified by the full council yesterday.

However, the council did a u-turn yesterday evening in response to a dramatic public outcry in which hundreds signed a petition against the proposals and many contacted politicians seeking their support for the threatened swimming service.

The u-turn means private group lessons may now continue until June when they will almost certainly be terminated, while an increase in admission fees will be re-examined at committee level before a decision is made.

Private swimming lessons were introduced at Down Leisure Centre several years ago when demand for council lessons vastly outstripped availability. Hundreds of children now attend private swimming lessons in the leisure centre every week including many with special needs. These private lessons take place alongside council lessons which continue to be heavily oversubscribed.

Among those concerned about the cancellation of private tuition is Emma McShane, whose nine year-old son Evan is autistic.

Emma introduced Evan to swimming lessons when he was in primary one when she was advised he would benefit from one-to-one lessons to ensure his safety.

Emma said Evan thrived in his personal lessons and was eventually able to return to a small group, which he continues to attend today.

She is angry that both types of private lessons that helped Evan develop water confidence are now at risk and believes children with special needs will be most penalised if private tutors are deterred from using the local pool, either due to rising fees or to a ban on group lessons.

“Smaller lessons allow Evan to take direct instructions in his peer group more easily and if these 

lessons stop and there are only large groups available I don’t know where that will leave him,” she said.

Evan is a student of Elaine Cromie’s Flippers Swimming school, which has been running at Down Leisure Centre for six years.

Elaine says she is is “insulted” her successful enterprise will soon be barred from the leisure centre and puzzled by the rationale behind it considering the huge popularity of private group lessons.

She said the demand was so high for council-run swimming lessons that parents were forced to queue, often unsuccessfully, to secure places. As a result, Elaine said Down Council seemed grateful when she asked to hire the small pool to provide an additional service.

“We understand that the council may want to take control of the new pool before it is built but that should not be to the detriment of those who are wanting to learn to swim,” she said.

“Parents are absolutely horrified and many of them do not want to tell their children that our classes will end because of the upset it will cause. 

“We live in a coastal area and children should be taught to swim. This is an insult.”

In a statement yesterday afternoon before the decision was deferred, a Down Council spokesman confirmed there were a number of proposed changes in the way swimming classes are provided.

He said these changes would “ensure consistency of service provision across the new district and will have a particular impact on the provision of swimming lessons provided in Down Leisure Centre.”

“Lessons will continue to be provided in-house for ages four and above,” he said.

“Private lessons will continue to operate on a one-to-one and one-to-two teaching basis.

“If the council cannot provide a suitable swimming class, it will permit private operators to deliver lessons within agreed programme times.”