Date: 28/01/2009
Parents and carers will shortly have the option of paying for their child's swimming lessons by monthly direct debit at High Peak Borough Council's indoor pools.
DC Leisure, the Council's partner in managing the indoor leisure facilities, is introducing a direct debit payment option. This flexible method of payment is now the preferred choice for the vast majority of parents at DC Leisure swimming pools.
The introduction of the direct debit option will coincide with the end of the current swimming lesson programme at all three Borough pools in Buxton, Glossop and New Mills.
The new swimming lesson programme, due to start in early spring, will be based on the Amateur Swimming Association's National Plan for Teaching Swimming. The proposed new programme will need a period of adjustment because it is different to the current teaching methods. The swimming lessons will be based on continuous assessment, rather than performance during a test week.
Andrew Bingham, Executive Councillor for Social and Community Development, said: "I hope that changes in the structure of the swimming classes and the introduction of direct debit options will help to make it easier for families who want their children to benefit from swimming lessons.
"Whilst direct debits can be helpful to many people as they try to manage their family budgets, we also appreciate that for some, direct debit may not be ideal, so the pre-pay option will still be available.
"I am also pleased at the much-enhanced level of lessons that will be offered in the Council's swimming pools. Together with the two-year free swimming for the over 60s and the under 16s, there are a great range of opportunities for residents to swim in our pools."