TLC Criticised Over Swimming Programmes

THAME Town Council has been asked to intervene in a row over swimming lesson programmes at its Jubilee pool.
A group of parents opposed to the introduction of a 50 week programme to replace a 36 week programme, are angry that their wishes have been ignored by SOLL Leisure who manage the pool.
Mrs Linda Newton, representing the parents, told a meeting of the Policy and Resources committee on Tuesday: “Despite a round table discussion, where SOLL agreed to consider proposals that were discussed and then to decide a way forward after a meeting with yourselves, they have instead handed all families who currently swim, a letter detailing their commitment to continue with the unpopular swimming over the summer, and offered a sweetener of free, public swimming for children who enrol.
“It is clear that the main driving force is income. In fact SOLL themselves admitted that their goal was an increase in income from swimming.”
Mrs Newton questioned the financial benefit of the scheme and suggested that the ASA?s alternative option of a 40 week rolling programme would go a long way to meeting the needs of the people of Thame and help to bridge the financial gap.”
She concluded: “We need to ensure that the needs of all parties are listened to, respected and acted upon, not ignored and run rough shot over as we have been.”
The committee agreed to seek a meeting with SOLL Leisure as soon as possible to explain why they had taken the action they had, as Cllr David Dodds expressed it: “without any consultation with this council; it?s our pool.”
Cllr Adam Buckland said: “The drive for profit should not come before the needs of the community.”