Less Laps for Brecon Swimming Pool

10.30.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Sun 4th Feb 2007

Brecon Swimming Pool faces reduced opening hours meaning less access to healthy lifestyles for local people. The early morning and late night opening times are to be significantly slashed preventing early birds and night owls from swimming those all important extra laps.

Welsh Liberal Democrat AM for Brecon & Radnorshire Kirsty Williams said:" These changes will mean that those with busy lives whose only opportunity to exercise is before or after work or school will no longer be able to do so. With obesity fast on the rise we need to be taking every opportunity to encourage people to lead healthy, active lifestyles.

"The Plaid Labour Government's One Wales document states that it seeks to promote healthy living through swimming and yet in practice they are doing just the opposite by not providing adequate resources and therefore reducing people's ability to access facilities.

"It appears that figures showing low usage of the pool have been skewed by excluding the high numbers of OAPs who are entitled to and are taking up free swimming ."

"I have written to both Powys County Council and the Minister for Heritage expressing my strong concern at this reduction in service.