Paisley, nine, calls for Government re-think over free swim axe
A NOTTS schoolgirl says she hopes a petition to the Prime Minister opposing cuts to free swimming for under-16s will lead to a Government re-think.
Nine-year-old Paisley Ward visited Downing Street yesterday to lobby ministers over the withdrawal of free swimming funding to local authorities across the country.
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Petition: Paisley Ward, 9, with mum Maureen and Gloria De Piero, MP for Ashfield.
Paisley, of Sutton-in-Ashfield, handed over a petition signed by 931 people to Downing Street officials.
The Carsic Primary School pupil said: "I started the petition when the Government announced it was going to stop swimming this month.
"I was upset as I thought I was probably going to have to stop going. I decided then to do something about it."
The youngster wrote to the Prime Minister questioning the decision.
She said: "I wrote a letter saying why they shouldn't cancel the free swimming. It gives me something to do, rather than playing on the streets."
Paisley learned to swim at the Lammas Leisure Centre in Sutton-in-Ashfield with her brother, Connor. She now wants her younger sister, Milly, to enjoy the same privilege.
She met Ashfield MP, Gloria De Piero, to discuss her petition and was invited to London to present it. Paisley said: "I was really excited about going to Downing Street."
Her mother, Maureen, 36, also travelled down to London.
She said she would have to spend around £60 a week to take her and the three children to the pool if the free swimming scheme was axed. Mrs Ward said: "I'm really proud of what Paisley has done.
"The free swimming scheme has allowed us to go more frequently. It's improved all of their confidence in the water."
Miss De Piero also raised Paisley's campaign during Prime Minister's Questions earlier this month.
The MP said: "She's a remarkable nine-year-old girl.
"I remember hearing during election campaigning that the Government were going to protect frontline services. If it's not a frontline service to let a little girl learn to swim then it's very deceitful."
The free swimming programme started in April last year and also allowed over-60s across the country to swim for free at their local baths.
The Government says ending it early, before March next year, will save £40 million.
5 Comments
by marg, ashfield
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 8:27AM
“Well done Paisley, a good achievement!!
The MP is representing the peoples views locally, as she should.
Sutton in Ashfield is an are which has lost its industries. In areas where there is deprivation, and high levels of unemployment, free swimming should be the norm. It would steer the children away from "looking for mischief to occupy their time"
In wealthier neighbourhoods where there is plenty of work available, then fine - let them pay - and yes thats a two tier system! There will always be the "haves" and the "have nots"”
by jason lowbridge, sutton in ashfield
Tuesday, July 27 2010, 8:08PM
“this is so much more than just free swimming, this is investing in children, there health and well being, we invest so much in safety camera's so why not swimming when it will save lives. we talk about obesity taking large amounts of NHS funding so lets prevent rather than cure with good exercise, and lets give the kids somthing to do instead of pointlessly roaming neighbour hoods and falling into gang cultures, i'm sure this scheme would be a money saver to the tax payer not a burden. and elderly people need exercise too, lets stop this pill pushing and start promoting exercise available too anybody who has the will and effort to do something about themselves. Its also nice to see in parliament that between scandals we still live in a democracy where even a young constituent of nine can pick up a pen and be heard, how blessed are we.”
by john, Nottingham
Tuesday, July 27 2010, 6:59PM
“i was not knocking the child nor would i. the persons who was blatantly using her for their own POLITICAL ends it was them i was knocking.. 9 year old child was being exposed by an MP who knows how to use the media for her own ends after all she was highly paid one of them. YES the parasites and druggies want to be tackled in a big way but it seems the politicians do not want to know they are to busy on trivialities”
by Maureen Ward, Sutton in Ashfield
Tuesday, July 27 2010, 3:34PM
“While I totally agree with your comment that people should not expect things for free, I feel that it is sad that you have chosen to criticise Miss De Piero for fulfilling her duties as an MP. One of her constituents has approached her with an issue that affects them and she has done her best to follow it through to affect change, and I am sure that she will continue to do so for any of her other constituents who approach her with their issues. My husband and I work for a living and we pay for our children to partake in many activities each week. Our children most certainly know that things do not come for free, and if we can't afford to do something, we don't do it. Paisley wasn't writing to ask for the introduction of free swimming, she has simply got used to having the luxury, and hoped to keep it. Perhaps your criticism would be better placed upon the many thousand of unemployed, drug users and alcoholics who make no attempt to improve their situations and who continue to drain the nhs and benefit system, and not on a 9 year old girl who would like to meet up with her friends, keeping active and not hanging about on the streets.”
by john, nottingham
Tuesday, July 27 2010, 11:52AM
“the ruddy cheek, trust labour to rob the tax payers. the child should be taught there is nothing free, if it costs money that means it as to be paid for. as a user you should be prepared to pay for it not put the cost on the ones who do not use it. if the newly elected MP thinks you should not pay let her treat you out of her generous salary not send a child on a begging mission”