Research shows swimming declining as new town pool proposed

With an application for a new swimming pool being proposed for Swaffham, new data questions whether many still consider swimming to be important at all.

The pool application for Turbine Way was made by Karen Bromley, a fully-qualified swimming teacher.

Her proposal is for supervised lessons and other water-related activities rather than a general leisure centre for all members of the public.

It comes as new research shows a staggering one-in-three children cannot swim 25 metres by the time they leave primary school.

The research from ASA also shows 25 per cent of parents are unable to swim at all in the UK.

Rachel Ferguson, of Better, the UK’s largest leisure non-profit organisation, highlighted the nearest Better leisure centre to Swaffham is 40 minutes away in Ely.

She said: “New figures revealing the number of pools to the UK public sector falling between 2010-2018 is of particular interest to the people of Swaffham.

“By reinforcing the community, physical and mental benefits of public pools, Better are hoping this stops closures and inspires communities to support local leisure centres.”

However Ian Pilcher, of the Swaffham Residents’ Forum, said Mrs Bromley’s pool proposal is not the answer for the quest for facilities.

He said: “This is most certainly not a swimming pool in the established sense and is a spurious suggestion of fulfilling local people’s desires.”