Ben Everitt, the MP for Milton Keynes North, is delighted Stantonbury Leisure Centre is set to receive funding from the Conservative Government to keep its swimming pool afloat.
Swimming is a valuable life skill for people of all ages and is extremely beneficial for people’s mental and physical wellbeing. 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 Swimming Pool Support Fund was first announced at the March Budget. This first £20 million of funding 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 Conservative Government is continuing to deliver the long-term health facilities to support opportunities for people to get fit and healthy, helping to cut obesity rates and get millions more people active.
Ben Everitt MP said: “I know how important swimming is for many people across Milton Keynes, not just for physical health but also mental health and U understand that swimming pools and leisure facilities have struggled over recent months as operating costs have increased.
“That is why I welcome the Conservative Government’s investing into Stantonbury Leisure Centre as part of £20 million fund for swimming pools and leisure facilities across England.
“This funding will help ensure that the swimming pools and leisure facilities that are most at risk of closure can manage the increased operating costs so constituents can continue getting fit and healthy – contributing to the Prime Minister’s long-term aim to cut obesity rates and get millions more people active.”
Sports Minister, Stuart Andrew MP commented: “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.”