SWIMMERS have dived into pools reopening across Warwick district.
Since indoor pools opened in April St Nicholas Park, Newbold Comyn and Abbey Fields leisure centres have seen a big uptake in demand.
There has been a 25 per cent increase in swim subscribers and as swimming lessons have also returned pool space has been at a premium.
Extended opening hours are now being considered to accommodate the rise in demand.
Everyone Active contract manager Gareth Wagg said: “We’re delighted to welcome all swimmers back into our pools. We’re particularly pleased to see the return of school groups and the swimming lesson programme, restarting the teaching of a potentially life-saving skill.
“There are currently more than 500 children enrolled on parent and baby or Stage 1 swimming classes across the district and after so many months of closure parents have been keen to build their children’s confidence in the water especially before the summer holidays.”
Warwick District Council’s leisure spokesman coun Liam Bartlett added: “As widely reported by Swim England and former Olympian Duncan Goodhew, more than 5million swimming lessons have been cancelled during the pandemic which has meant that 240,000 children across the country have missed out on learning to swim. It’s therefore vitally important that we prioritise the availability of lessons across our indoor pools in Leamington, Warwick and Kenilworth.
“With a recent survey by the District Councils’ Network indicating that around a third of council-run leisure centres in England are facing closure, I’m very proud our outstanding centres at Newbold Comyn and St Nicholas Park are thriving and that we are bucking this trend with our exciting investment plans for Kenilworth.”
