THE COST of swimming in Solihull is set to increase, as the council looks to approve higher admission prices at Tudor Grange and North Solihull Sports Centre.
The council proposes raising the price of a peak adult swim from £4.85 to £5 at Tudor Grange Leisure Centre. A junior peak swim would go up from £3 to £3.10.
At the North Solihull Leisure Centre, a peak adult swim would increase from £4.05 to £4.15. A junior peak swim would increase by 5p to £2.80. Admission for under fours would stay free.
Some prices for gym membership will be frozen in 2020, but costs for sports pitches, table tennis and fitness classes will also increase.
Across the two leisure centres, costs could go up on average by two per cent from January 1.
Swimming prices for residents referred by their doctor and for the unemployed and disabled will also be frozen through 2020.
In May 2018, Everyone Active was given a 10-year contract by Solihull council to deliver its leisure services.
The revenue from the increased admission would be go to manager Everyone Active, and the council is not set to make a loss or gain on leisure centre fees.
In a report prepared for the cabinet member for sport, Joe Tildesley, the council’s director of public health Nick Garnett said: “There hasn’t been consultation on these price proposals.
“Coventry University were commissioned in 2016/17 to conduct research into the barriers to physical activity participation, which identified that price and the wider cost of participation such as transport created an issue of affordability locally.”
Mr Garnett added that the council would still fulfil plans to keep the borough healthy, stating: “The proposals assist in the delivery of increased participation in sport and active recreation by maintaining lower prices for low participation groups.”
