14 May 2008
We received a petition asking:
"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Subsidise sports facilities - save Burnham Swimming Pool."
Details of Petition:
"The swimming pool at Burnham-on-Sea will shortly be closed because Sedgemoor District Council cannot afford to subsidise it. What sort of message is this sending out about the importance of exercise and fitness? Where else can we swim? Where can schoolchildren learn to swim? Pools are very important facilities for many community members. Museums are subsidised - why not sports facilities?."
Read the Government’s response
The decisions about facilities in Somerset currently rest with the local council. It is critical that local authorities plan strategically for the future, to ensure that all community needs are catered for. This includes undertaking an assessment of existing provision and its ability to meet current and projected demand.
The Government invests in sport to help take forward wider policy aims in public health, education and community cohesion, and we recognise the role that swimming can play. Since 1997 £250m Lottery funding has been invested in swimming making it the single biggest beneficiary of Lottery funding and reflecting the fact that swimming is one of the most popular community participation sports.