Local residents take the plunge
Chuka Umunna, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Streatham, and Culture and Sports Secretary Ben Bradshaw MP today hailed more than 7000 free swims across Lambeth.
The popular scheme was started in April this year and has well exceeded expectations with over 250 councils, including Lambeth, offering free swimming for people over 60 and for those 16 and under.
Lambeth saw 4990 free swims for over 60s and 2494 swims for under 16s from April to June this year.
Umunna, a former competitive swimmer who in his youth swam for Lambeth in the London Youth Games, said:
“It is great that since the national launch of Free Swimming we have seen so many people using it in Streatham.
“I am proud to see that Lambeth Council is backing the scheme to offer free swimming to people over 60 and under 16.
“This provides a fun and now accessible means of keeping fit and active. Swimming is one of the best forms of exercise because it’s something people of all ages can do.”
Bradshaw said:
“Swimming is a wonderful way to stay healthy and can involve all the family so I am really pleased so many people in Lambeth have taken advantage of it.
“It also ensures that local pools are given a new lease of life in the heart of their communities.”
The £140 million Government initiative was announced last June, – delivering on a Labour Government promise to help get two million people more active by the time London hosts the Olympics and Paralympics in 2012.
