Penrith & Solway MP, Markus Campbell-Savours has submitted an Early Day Motion to Parliament regarding the proposals affecting Penrith Swimming Club’s Learn to Swim provision.
The parliamentary intervention follows more than a month of uncertainty which began on 1 August, when the General Manager of Penrith Leisure Centre, operated by Better/GLL, wrote to Penrith Swimming Club stating that, following the summer break, the Club would no longer be authorised to operate its junior Learn to Swim sessions during its pool hire.
At a subsequent meeting, the Club says GLL’s Partnership Manager described the delivery of Learn to Swim by the Club as a “red line” for GLL. This came despite Penrith Swimming Club having operated from the leisure centre since it opened and having a long-established relationship with swimming provision in the town.
The Club and local community also raised tens of thousands of pounds towards the development of the Frenchfield Teaching Pool in the 1990s. The teaching pool is now at the centre of the dispute, with GLL proposing that the Club should no longer use it to deliver its beginner Learn to Swim provision.
The Club is clear that it does not claim its historic financial contribution gives it ownership of the pool. However, it believes that history is important context when considering whether the appropriate response to a longstanding community arrangement is to formalise it or remove it.
Westmorland and Furness Council has itself acknowledged the Club’s “historic contribution to the leisure centre” and confirmed that the absence of a formal Learn to Swim agreement was not the Club’s fault, adding that PSC had been working with the Council to formalise the arrangement since 2023.
The controversy intensified after information about the Club was released into the public domain. Westmorland and Furness Council subsequently apologised for confusion and misconceptions surrounding the Club and publicly confirmed there was “no suggestion of impropriety” by Penrith Swimming Club or its volunteers.
The Council also confirmed the Club has maintained the highest level of Swim England club accreditation for ten consecutive years. The Council has since stated that no final decision has been made and that one of the options being considered is for GLL and Penrith Swimming Club to continue providing separate beginner Learn to Swim programmes alongside one another.
The formal motion submitted in the House of Commons puts a the issue on the parliamentary record and allows MPs from across the country and across political parties to add their names in support.
The full wording of the motion put forward by Markus Campbell-Savours MP says “That this House celebrates the 145-year history of Penrith Swimming Club and its role in delivering affordable, quality, volunteer-led learn-to-swim provision for resident of Cumbria;”
“notes the vital role played by the swim club in fundraising for the training pool at Penrith Leisure Centre;”
“notes with dismay the attempts of Better, operated by Greenwich Leisure Limited, to stop the swim club from accessing the publicly owned facilities at the centre, thereby threatening to end the club's ability to teach young children Swim England's learn -to-swim programme up to level 7;”
“further acknowledges local concerns that restricting the swim club's access could result in learners moving to operator-run sessions, with potential advantages for GLL and implications for the quality of provision; further notes that Penrith Swimming Club, as a competitive sports club, provides a pathway for young people who progress from learn-to swim into sport; and views these measures as risking undermining the development of competitive swimming in the community;”
“and therefore calls on Westmoreland and Furness Council to consider all contractual options and halt any discussion of future contract with GLL until it has provided a written undertaking to Penrith Swim Club that it will withdraw this plan and guarantee continued access for the club.”
Luke Brown, committee Member of Penrith Swimming Club said: “This is a significant moment for our campaign. What started on 1 August with an ultimatum that came completely out of the blue has now reached Parliament.”
“For 145 years this Club has been part of Penrith. Generations of volunteers have taught children, developed competitive swimmers and given thousands of hours back to their community. Our predecessors even helped raise the money that made the Frenchfield Teaching Pool possible.”
“We are incredibly grateful to Markus for listening to our swimmers, parents and volunteers and for taking their voices directly to Westminster.”
“Our position remains simple. We are not asking for GLL’s swimming lessons to stop. We believe the two programmes can coexist, families should retain choice and Penrith Swimming Club should be able to continue providing the pathway it has built over generations.”
“We want to work constructively with GLL and Westmorland and Furness Council to reach a solution. We want a formal agreement that works for everyone and protects swimming in Penrith for the next generation.”
The Club’s campaign has attracted widespread community support, with thousands signing its petition and Penrith Town Council also backing the continuation of the Club’s Learn to Swim provision alongside GLL.
Penrith Swimming Club is now encouraging MPs from across the country to add their names to EDM 778 and demonstrate their support for community swimming clubs and sustainable pathways from learning to swim into competitive sport.
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