Saqib has welcomed £294,481 in funding for local swimming pools from the Government’s Swimming Pool Support Fund. Within the Meriden constituency, this funding will be awarded to the North Solihull Sports Centre in Chelmsley Wood.
Swimming is a valuable life skill for people of all ages and is extremely beneficial for people’s mental and physical well-being. In addition, Swim England’s latest Value of Swimming report showed that water-based activity, including swimming, helps generate social value of £2.4 billion a year.
The Conservative Government’s investment of £20 million in swimming pools and leisure facilities across England means that 196 leisure centres and swimming pools in 103 local authorities will benefit from boosted funding, supporting over 23 million swims a year.
The first £20 million of funding from the Government’s Swimming Pool Support Fund is going to the swimming pools and leisure centres most at risk of closure or significant service reduction and will be used to help with the recent rise in energy costs, such as paying towards immediate maintenance costs, heating, and pool chemicals.
The Government is continuing to champion health facilities to support opportunities for people to get fit and healthy, helping to cut obesity rates and get millions more people active.
Commenting on the funding, Saqib said:
“I know how important swimming is for my constituents, I also understand that swimming pools and leisure facilities have struggled over recent months as operating costs have increased. That is why I am welcoming the Government’s investment of £294,481 in the North Solihull Sports Centre.”
“This funding will help ensure that swimming pools and leisure facilities can manage the increased operating costs to allow our community to continue getting fit and healthy.”
Sports Minister, Stuart Andrew MP said:
“Leisure centres and pools are vital for millions of people to stay fit and healthy, and we know that many public swimming pools are experiencing greater pressure due to increased operating costs."
“We have heard their concerns and have stepped in to help them make ends meet with £20 million immediate relief, and a further £40 million to help improve sustainability of public swimming pools over the long term.
"This is part of our support for grassroots sports facilities with more than £400 million in order to achieve our ambitious target of getting 3.5 million more people active by 2030.”
