Children and over 60s able to swim for free in Sandwell
Thousands of children and over 60s in Sandwell will be able to swim for free during the next two years after councillors agreed to extend the popular scheme.
More than 16,000 children and adults have taken up the offer since it was launched in 2013.
Free swimming will be available at the new Wednesbury Leisure Centre when it opens later in the year.
It will continue to be offered at Haden Hill, Langley, Smethwick, Tipton and West Bromwich leisure centres.
The scheme allows adults, who are Sandwell residents, aged 60 and over to swim without charge during public swimming sessions, for seven days per week before 1pm, all year round. While children and teenagers can swim for free during school holidays.
Councillors were keen for the popular initiative to continue, despite the fact it will cost the authority more than £350,000 to run.
It was originally introduced to help cut obesity rates following a rise in the number of overweight youngsters in the borough.
Sandwell Council said the number of children visiting its leisure centres had increased by 85 per cent since the launch of the scheme.
Councillor Paul Moore said: "Young people are taking advantage of the free swimming scheme and I thoroughly support the continuation of free swimming in Sandwell."
