SWIMMING could be off the curriculum for some Wyre school children with three local pools under threat of closure unless the council step in.

Wyre Borough Council has been placed in a Catch-22 situation after Lancashire County Council withdrew funding from the pools in Thornton, Garstang and Over Wyre following changes in policy towards school swimming provision.

The pools are all attached to schools and they may close unless the local council agree to take them over for public use, leaving the adjacent schools to make alternative arrangements for pupils' swimming.

Wyre Borough Council leader Pat Catlow described how detailed discussions have been held between officers of the County and Borough Councils, and a "comprehensive report" produced. This, and the implications for Wyre and its taxpayers, will be considered at the meeting on Thursday (February 10).

Coun Catlow said that council members were surprised, after the start of the last budget year, to learn of the County's intentions. She added: :"We were even more surprised that there was an expectation that we would just react quickly and agree to take over these pools under the threat of closure, and without taking account of the effect on the Council's overall services. "I think it is an appalling decision to have to make."

She went on to explain that they have examined the matter entirely from the point of view of Wyre's responsibility for public swimming: "If the County Council has reached the conclusion that the need for school swimming can be satisfied without these three pools, then we must accept that decision, albeit with great regret.

"They should not, however, expect that decision to bear on Wyre's conscience!"

Coun Catlow said early indications suggest that running costs for the Thornton and Over Wyre pools may be "too high too justify", but because almost 60 per cent of the Garstang costs are already covered by Wyre Borough Council they hope to take control of it and are awaiting a contractual offer from the County Council.

According to Lancashire County Council, if the bill for funding Thornton is not picked up by Wyre Borough Council it could mean closing the pool, which is next to Redmarsh Day School, Holly Road.

A spokesman said: "Discussions about the future of these pools are still ongoing, but I can say we will do all we can to keep the pools in operation. We can not rule out the possibility of closure, but it is a last resort."

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