Research has found that some 500 public swimming pools have shut down across England since 2010, with almost half closing their doors during the last five years
Young people are being left at risk of drowning as hundreds of swimming pools have closed over the past decade, a union has warned.
Research has found that 500 public swimming pools have shut across England since 2010, with almost half closing their doors in the last five years.
The GMB union said the raft of closures was a “terrifying example” of the scars left by Tory austerity, depriving some children of the chance to learn to swim.
Local councils, which are the biggest funders of public leisure centres, have seen their budgets squeezed over the last decade.
But in 2023, the-then PM Rishi Sunak splashed out tens of thousands of pounds to boost the electricity supply to his private swimming pool – while public baths struggled with soaring running costs.
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Kevin Brandstatter, GMB national officer, said: “The Conservatives’ grim legacy of austerity has left brutal scars right across society.
“Local authorities being forced to close so many swimming pools is a particularly terrifying example.
“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.
“Taken to its extreme, it leaves young people at risk of drowning.
“It’s going to take years to repair the damage the Tories did, but Labour’s fair funding review must start funding local authorities properly again.”
Leaders in local government and the fitness and leisure sector have urged the Government to increase funds for community assets such as leisure centres, swimming pools and local gyms.
A coalition of the Local Government Association, Chief Cultural and Leisure Officers Association, Community Leisure UK, Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers, Swim England, and ukactive said published a report this month revealing that 30% of children in Year 7 cannot swim 25 metres confidently, up from 27% in 2017/18.
Since 2010, around 500 swimming pools have closed, representing a loss of more than 34,000 square metres of water space, with nearly half closing in the last five years, the study found.
The coalition also warned that 60% of swimming pools are beyond their expected lifespan or in need of refurbishment.
Liz Green, who chairs the Local Government Association’s culture, tourism and sport board, said: “Local communities rely on sport and leisure facilities every day, whether it is swimming for the family or going to the gym.
“The benefits to both physical and mental health can be life-changing, yet without urgent investment we risk losing these altogether.”
A Department for Culture Media and Sport spokesperson said: “As part of our Plan for Change, we are absolutely committed to building a healthier nation and reducing pressure on our NHS.
“Having pledged £400 million to support grassroots facilities, we are now working with the sport and leisure sector and local areas to understand what’s needed to get people active in their community.
“We will ensure that this funding promotes health, wellbeing and community cohesion and helps to remove the barriers to physical activity for under-represented groups.”
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