Date: 06/10/2008
The final figures confirm that the Council's free swimming offer to young people aged 16 and under gave a massive boost to pool attendances.
For the third year running, Buxton, Glossop and New Mills pools offered free swimming over the summer holidays, during public swimming sessions. Attendances at the pools almost trebled, when compared to those of 2005, when young people had to pay to swim.
Junior attendances in 2005 totalled 6,653. The total for 2008 was 18,102. Adult attendances rose from 6,717 in 2005 to 9,879 this year. This suggests that the offer to young people has encouraged family swimming at the pools.
The free swim promotion was part of the Council's wider commitment to encourage young people, in particular, to become actively involved in sports and pastimes that reduce anti-social behaviour, and improve health and lifestyles.
Andrew Bingham, Executive Councillor for Social and Community Development, said: "The free swimming offer aims to encourage young people to keep fit and healthy during the summer. Despite Council finances being tight, we were determined to run the scheme again this year.
"I am absolutely delighted to see that so many youngsters have taken advantage of the promotion and that their families have been joining in as well. In what are difficult times, financially, for all of us, we continue to try and deliver the services that people want to see from their local Council."