MP welcomes free swimming success

Sylvia Heal MP today welcomed more than one million free swims across the country.

The popular scheme was started in April this year and has well exceeded expectation with 259 councils offering it for people over 60, and 190 for those 16 and under.

The West Midlands has seen nearly 600,000 free swims for over 60s and under 16s as part of the £140 million Government initiative announced last June, delivering on a Labour Government promise to help get two million people more active by the time London hosts the Olympics and Paralympics in 2012.

Sylvia Heal MP said: “It is great that since the national launch of Free Swimming we have seen so many people using it.  

“I am proud that across Halesowen and Rowley Regis people are making use of free swimming and I hope more will do so. It provides a fun and now accessible means of keeping fit and active.”