Children denied free swimming as councils reject funding

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A £140million nationwide scheme, which aims to boost flagging sports participation in the build-up to the London Olympics, is launched today by Culture Secretary Andy Burnham.

The "Swim4Life" scheme offers to fund free swimming for two years for over-sixties and under-16s, providing councils with grants. But after concerns over inadequate funding, it has been rejected by Barnet, Croydon, Richmond, Sutton, Hillingdon, Hounslow and Hammersmith and Fulham. The boroughs have only opted for the over-sixties programme.

A cluster of boroughs from south-west London have also refused the scheme, raising concerns of postcode inequality in swimming provision. Bromley and Westminster have also opted out. Westminster already funds free swimming for teenagers and pensioners and is concerned about a possible influx of swimmers who are not residents.

Councils complain the grants are insufficient to cover the high costs of extra use, with the estimated annual shortfall between £200,000 and £400,000 per borough. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, which is running the scheme, pays councils an average of £2.50 per swimming session. Councils not offering a subsidy have costs of £4 per session and are likely to lose money.

Swimming chiefs said the capital suffered from "patchwork" provision and the solution was an Oyster Card-style swimming card used in all boroughs.