Swim England’s plea: Don't let swimming become leisure’s ‘forgotten activity’

Less than 20 per cent of local authority-owned facilities will welcome swimmers back into the water on reopening day

Swim England has pleaded with the Government to ensure swimming doesn’t become leisure’s ‘forgotten activity’ – after it was revealed almost a third of public pools could remain closed for another six months.

Indoor pools across the country are allowed to reopen on Saturday 25 July – 128 days after they were forced to shut on Friday 20 March as part of the nationwide effort to help curb the spread of coronavirus.

However, less than 20 per cent of local authority-owned facilities will welcome swimmers back into the water on reopening day – and many of those will be at a reduced capacity.

New research also shows 30 per cent of public pools may remain closed into 2021 due to the exceptional costs councils face to reopen facilities – coupled with the income lost during the lockdown period.

https://www.swimming.org/swimengland/pools-expected-stay-closed/?fbclid=IwAR2NYAEvfUvvcxt2qyJqVYSiaq1IMCxlJTVnNE9u5kVY8ngXa2atJaTW1yA