Free swimming for all is a pipe dream, says axed pool protester

A government pledge to allow people to swim free in the runup to the 2012 Olympics is a sham, claim campaigners fighting the planned closure of a public pool.

Culture Secretary Andy Burnham has announced that over-sixties will be given free entry to public pools by the end of this year, with charges scrapped for everyone by 2012. The announcement coincideswith the news that one of only two public pools in Redbridge is to shut in December.

Ilford swimming baths will be the 20th council pool in London to close and not be replaced in the last two

decades. Paul Robbins, head coach at Redbridge Swimming Club, said: "Free swimming is a great idea but where are you going to put them? There are 260,000 people in Redbridge. It will be impossible to squeeze them all into six lanes at the Fulwell Cross pool in Barkingside. Ilford is an old pool and I understand why it has to close but the council has to say how it's going to replace it. From a competitive point of view it's suicidal." Mr Robbins said swimming was an important way to tackle obesity, keep children off the street and help old people stay fit. "Swimming in this country is a disgrace. There are more 50m pools in Paris than in the whole of Britain."

Redbridge said it was consulting residents over a replacement pool.