Free swimming at Shropshire pools

Free swimming is to be offered to every single person in Shropshire in the run up to the Olympic Games. Shropshire Council is opening up all of its swimming pools for the public sessions once a week during the eight-weeks before London 2012.

Every Tuesday between May 1 and June 30 free swimming will be available at Oswestry Leisure Centre and Whitchurch Swimming Centre.

It will also be available at Market Drayton Swimming Centre, Much Wenlock Leisure Centre and The Quarry Swimming and Fitness Centre in Shrewsbury.

Swimmers at Bridgnorth Leisure Centre will be offered free sessions on Wednesdays.

The council is also offering residents free gym inductions at each of its leisure centres which provides fitness suites including the Lakelands Sports Centre in Ellesmere, Thomas Adams Sport Centre in Wem, Idsall Sports Centre in Shifnal, and Shrewsbury's London Road Sports Centre and Sundorne Sports Village.

The idea is to encourage people in the county to get fit and active ahead of the Games, which has the slogan 'Inspire a generation'.

Council officials said the move would not cost the taxpayer a penny more because the centres would already be open and staffed.

Shropshire Councillor Steve Charmley, portfolio holder for health and wellbeing, said: "The news that we will have free swimming in the eight weeks leading up to the Olympic games is fantastic.

"The Olympics is bringing to Britain a huge enthusiasm for sport at whatever level.

"We believe that giving the people of Shropshire free swimming every Tuesday will give them the chance to keep fit and enjoy sport.

"I hope everybody will take up the offer and our swimming pools will be really busy."

Swimming sessions at the centres usually cost between £3.35 and £5 for adults and £1.95 and £3 for children.

Council officials said swimming numbers would be restricted and warned that some pools may be full on particular days.