On the 17 June 2010 the Government announced that it was withdrawing funding for the free swimming programme for swimmers aged 60 years and over and 16 years and under. The two year initiative was due to run in the District from 1 April 2009 until 31 March 2011, but the funding has been cancelled from 1 August 2010 as part of the Government’s review of spending.

St Albans City and District Council is not in a position to meet the ongoing costs of the programme without Government funding, which amount to approximately £123K per year, so the initiative will have to be withdrawn.

Councillor Anthony Rowlands, Portfolio Holder for Sport and Leisure at the District Council, said: “We intend to minimise the impact in the short-term by extending the free swimming programme for those aged 16 years and under until the end of the summer holidays and continuing free swimming for the under 5’s on an ongoing basis. This will enable youngsters to continue to enjoy free swimming over the forthcoming school holidays which would not otherwise have been the case.”