Free swimming in £140m plan

Pools around the region are backing a £140 million drive to get people taking part in the healthy activity.

From April 1, people aged 16 and under or over 60 will be given free admission at certain times of the day.

Among those taking advantage will be retired bank worker Sue Lane, of Finchfield, who was enjoying a swim at Wolverhampton's Central Baths yesterday.

The 60-year-old, of Finchfield Lane, said: "The new initiative is brilliant. It's about the time the Government put its money where its mouth is if it wants us to keep healthy.

"So many swimming baths have closed so I hope they make the most of the facilities we've got left.

"The staff here at Central Baths are wonderful. I've been coming here since I was six or seven."

In Wolverhampton, more than 1,500 people have already signed up for the scheme, which will be on offer at Central Baths, Bilston Leisure Centre and Wolverhampton Swimming & Fitness Centre in Wednesfield.

In Sandwell, free sessions will run at Langley Swimming Centre, Smethwick Swimming Centre, Wednesbury Leisure Centre, Tipton Swimming Centre and Haden Hill Leisure Centre. The Crystal Leisure Centre in Stourbridge along with Dudley and Halesowen leisure centres and Coseley swimming pool are all taking part.

In Walsall, sessions will be held in Bloxwich, Darlaston, Oak Park, Gala and Willenhall baths.

As well as the new Stafford Leisure Centre in the town's Lammascote Road youngsters and older people will also be able to swim for free at Alleyne's Sports Centre in Stone.

Meanwhile, Lichfield Council is the only authority in Staffordshire to turn down the offer of government cash for the scheme.

The Tory-controlled authority bucked the trend because it did not want to end up footing the bill to cover free swimming at Friary Grange and Burntwood leisure centres once the two-year period of government funding had expired.

Concerns were also raised that the council's pools could become crowded with "free swimmers", driving away existing business.