PLANS to offer free swimming for youngsters in Gravesham have sunk without trace after the council determined it would be too expensive.

Gravesham Borough Council’s leader, Mike Snelling, accused the Government of failing to “put its money where its mouth is” in not coming up with the cash for free swimming schemes for the over 60s and under 16s.

The initiative was unveiled by ministers in June as part of the 2012 Olympics package.

But now as the three-year scheme is being rolled out to start next year, the details show the Government is not fully funding it and it could cost Gravesham council almost £150,000 a year.

That figure is based on current usage. If the scheme is successful and more people were to go swimming, the costs would go up.

Cllr Snelling said: “The idea is great – swimming is a healthy and enjoyable pursuit which deserves encouragement. But the Government is fond of making dramatic, headline-grabbing announcements and then not giving local councils the wherewithal to carry them out.”

On Monday night GBC cabinet members ruled out offering the scheme to under 16s, but agreed to look into the possibility for over 60s by seeking help with funding from the Primary Care Trust.

Cllr Snelling added: “Councils are expected to do more with less and the ability to raise more money is even more tightly restricted.

“It is little short of scandalous that the Government continually announces initiatives and repeatedly cuts the ground from under the feet of those who have the job of carrying them out.”

Since the council is not going ahead with both parts of the scheme, it will also be ruled out from accessing capital funds to improve the pools in its two leisure centres, Cygnet and Cascades (which are run for the council by Gravesham Community Leisure Ltd).

“This is the most cynical part of it. The Government says we have to pay the difference or we can’t even bid for the money to make our facilities better,” said Cllr Snelling.

What do you think? Are we holding our Olympic hopefuls back by not providing free swimming? Write to us with your views at Gravesend Messenger, 7 High Street, Gravesend, Kent DA11 0BQ, email gravesendmessenger@thekmgroup.co.uk or visit our website at www.gravesendmessenger.co.uk and go to the Speakout link.