Swimming pool closures put children ‘at risk of drowning, claims union

YOUNG people are being left at risk of drowning because of the “terrifying” closure of swimming pools over the past decade, a union has warned.

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The GMB union said its research backed up a study which showed since 2010, 500 public swimming pools have closed, with almost half shutting in the last five years.

The GMB said council-owned swimming pools had closed across the UK, including the Midlands, London, the West Midlands, South West, Wales, South East, Yorkshire, Scotland and the North East.

Kevin Brandstatter, GMB national officer, said: “The Conservatives’ grim legacy of austerity has left brutal scars right across society.

“Local authorities being forced to close so many swimming pools is a particularly terrifying example.