WESTMORLAND and Furness Council’s leadership is set to face questions over the future of Penrith Swimming Club’s Learn to Swim programme and proposed school transport changes when full council meets on Thursday.
Penrith South Independent councillor Cllr Eyles will put both issues directly to the council leadership at the meeting at Kendal Town Hall.
The first concerns the continuing uncertainty over Penrith Swimming Club’s Learn to Swim programme, with Cllr Eyles asking the portfolio holder to confirm whether the 145-year-old club will continue to be able to provide the programme to residents of Eden and beyond.
The question comes after the future of the club’s swimming provision at Penrith Leisure Centre became the subject of a growing local dispute.
Penrith Swimming Club has been making the case for its Learn to Swim programme to continue, with the club highlighting the role it plays in bringing children into swimming and providing a pathway into the wider club.
The club has also pointed to the money it has put into swimming provision locally.
Cllr Eyles will remind the council that Penrith Swimming Club contributed £40,000 towards the Frenchfield Teaching Pool when it was needed and continues to pay a similar sum every year in fees to Penrith Leisure Centre.
His question to the portfolio holder is whether, despite the dispute over the current arrangements, the club will continue to be able to deliver its Learn to Swim programme.
The issue has become increasingly important for the club and its supporters, with concerns that changes to the existing arrangements could affect one of the main routes through which children in the area learn to swim before progressing into club swimming.
Cllr Eyles will ask:
“Penrith Swimming Club has long supported swimming in Eden by contributing £40,000 towards the Frenchfield Teaching Pool when it was needed and continues that support by paying a similar sum every year in fees to Penrith Leisure Centre.
“Will the portfolio holder please confirm that Penrith Swimming Club will continue to be able to offer its Learn to Swim programme to the residents of Eden and beyond?”
The council has previously said that discussions over future swimming provision are continuing.
The meeting will also see Cllr Eyles question the council leader over proposed changes to school transport.
He will point to the Executive’s own report, which he says estimates that more than 100 young people will be affected every year by the decision to stop funding their school transport.
Cllr Eyles says the saving has been reported as being worth, at most, around £300,000 a year after five years.
He will also highlight the potential impact on families whose children want to attend Penrith Grammar School.
His concern is that young people could be unable to attend the school because their parents cannot afford to fund the transport themselves.
He will ask the council leader:
“Does the Leader think it is worth potentially adversely affecting so many young people’s life chances to save such a small sum?”
The two questions will be put to the council leadership at the full council meeting at Kendal Town Hall on Thursday afternoon, putting the portfolio holder and council leader on the spot to explain the decisions being made and their impact on Penrith families.
Then select "Add to Home Screen"
