DCN responds to Swim England report on swimming pool closures

Responding to a report by Swim England, A Decade of Decline: The Future of Swimming Pools in England, which warns almost 2,000 pools could be lost by the end of the decade, Cllr Dan Humphreys, District Councils’ Network lead member for enhancing quality of life, said:

“This grave warning underlines the urgent need for the Government to set out a long-term rescue package for leisure centres in the Spending Review.

“More than 100 leisure centres are under threat of going bust as a result of the devastating financial impact of the pandemic, with one in three district councils expecting to be forced to close gyms and swimming pools in their area.

“This is why the District Councils’ Network is joining the call for a £1billion capital investment into public leisure facilities, alongside a more immediate rescue fund to prevent closures.

“Leisure centres can be a vital part of the Government’s levelling-up agenda. They are pivotal to local communities, from helping a child learn to swim to providing fitness classes that help older people stay active, which is why they need to be properly invested in.”

Ends