Fiona makes a big splash
Cllr wins swim lesson fight
A Wishaw councillor has won her fight to re- int roduce swimming lessons for primary five kids in North Lanarkshire.
The SNP’S Fiona Fotheringham, a talented teenage swimmer herself, saw her motion passed at a meeting of the council following support from the Conservative Group across the chamber.
Cllr Fotheringham said: “I was absolutely delighted that members passed the motion to again provide P5 swimming lessons from the core budget which defeated Labour’s counter motion which proposed otherwise.
“Since swimming lessons were abolished in the Labour budget, 50 per cent of schools and 2000 children in North Lanarkshire lost the opportunity to learn this core life skill.
“Of the other 50 per cent many had to fundraise in order to continue to provide swimming lessons to pupils.
“This was simply not good enough and I’m delighted to have championed this back onto the curriculum in schools.”
Cllr Fotheringham, who represents the Central Wishaw ward, has already held talks with Scottish Swimming and the Scottish Lifesaving A s s o c i at i o n a b o u t the issue. Her motion acknowledged that swimming lessons are on the curriculum in English schools and Scottish Swimming is currently in discussion with the Scottish Parliament for similar provision in Scottish Schools.
It adds that the council understands the role it has in protecting young people and ensuring there is no unnecessary deaths by drowning due to swimming lessons being removed.
She added: “Swimming is fundamental for physical literacy, life and survival.
“As a council we have a statutory obligation to keep our children safe and healthy.
“We currently have a generational problem of not being able to swim and this needs to be addressed.”
A counter motion, proposed by Labour’s council leader Jim Logue, was defeated.
Cllr Logue’s motion stated that NLC should await with interest the continuing discussions between the Scottish Government and Scottish Swimming, whilst fully recognising the increasing pressures on l ocal authorities to manage leisure facilities.
Conservative Group leader Meghan Gallacher said: “My group was pleased to support the SNP motion as swimming is not only just a sport, but a life lesson.
“It is vital for young people to learn this skill as being able to swim saves lives.”