Felpham swimmers pay more despite free swim programme

Arun Leisure Centre operator Inspire Leisure has opted out of taking part in the government's initiative.

It instead decided to increase the price of its regular swimmer programme on the same day free swimming became available in almost 300 other areas around the country.

Sonia Eastick, Inspire's marketing and membership manager, said it had decided against joining in the free swimming for the over 60s and under 16s.

"Working in partnership with the local authority, Arun District Council, a decision was made that we would not be participating in the scheme as a district.

"The funding offered by central government was not adequate to accommodate the scheme."

The government offered 66,354 to provide free swimming for the over-60s in the Arun district for one year.

This is based on their number in the population.

Nearly 300 councils decided to participate when the scheme for the over 60s began last Wednesday.More than 200 are also offering free pool time to the under 16s.

As an alternative, Ms Eastick recommended that regular swimmers should get a 12 for 10 swim card. This went up by 1 last Wednesday to 27 for seniors and to 19 for juniors.

Inspire Leisure also offers cheap single swims at 2.70 for senior members and 1.90 for junior members.

Both have also gone up by 10p. Tone Zone membership of the centre, available only to over 16s, provides free swims as part of a monthly package of benefits.

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