CONSERVATIVES IGNORE PARENTS OVER SWIMMING LESSONS

At a Council meeting last night, the Tory-controlled Executive ignored the concerns of parents regarding the new changes in swimming lessons at Woking Leisure Centre. Concerned parents, Paul and Alison Szarvas, presented a petition on behalf of 95 parents on Monday 30 March at the Council's Scrutiny Committee. They protested the fact that parents would be forced to take young children to swimming lessons during school holidays.

Lib Dem Cllr Richard Sharp, Chairman of the Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee said:

"As it became clear that the Tories were not going to make any changes to the proposed scheme, I appealed that the price rise per swimming lesson be frozen to help parents move to the new scheme. However many lessons they attend or miss, parents are faced with a minimum 34% increase in the annual cost of the scheme in a time of recession.

They arrogantly ignored my proposal, playing with the numbers to argue the cost per lesson under the new scheme was less than last year if children attended all 50 classes. Any child that manages that needs a personal trainer - they are learning to swim, not training for the Olympics!"

Lib Dem Shadow Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Cllr Ian Eastwood:

"I was outraged when the Tory Council Leader refused to allow me the opportunity to speak about this important issue at last night's meeting. I wanted to point out that only 58% of parents on the old scheme have re-enrolled in the new scheme. What about the other 42%? All the Conservatives care about is money, not the people who will be affected by this new scheme."