Swimmers left high and dry

8.17.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 18th Sep 2008

Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Maidstone Borough Council, Cllr Fran Wilson, has slammed the Conservative administration in Maidstone for REFUSING to take up a Government offer to help give FREE swimming to many Maidstone residents. Cllr Wilson said, 'In the year of Olympic triumph in Beijing for British swimmers it is simply outrageous that the ruling Tories will not support this FREE swimming initiative'.

The Government scheme would have helped provide FREE swimming to young people aged 5 to 17 and to the over 60s.

Cllr Wilson added, 'Local people deserve better than this. Sport is a great discipline for young people and a great way for the more mature people to keep healthy. We are constantly being told by Government that a healthy nation is a better nation.'

Local Cllr Dave Naghi said, "Becky Adlington took home 2 gold medals to Mansfield - with this approach from the Council there will be little chance of swimming golds for Maidstone."