20 Aug 2026

Penrith Swimming Club welcomes the latest statement from Westmorland and Furness Council and particularly the Council’s apology regarding its previous communications about our club.

We welcome the Council’s clarification that:

“There is no suggestion of impropriety on the part of the Swim Club or its volunteers.”

We also welcome its recognition of our 10 consecutive years at the highest level of Swim England club accreditation, our historic contribution to Penrith Leisure Centre and the high standard of coaching provided by our volunteers.

These are important corrections to the public record and we thank the Council for making them.

However, one significant element of today’s statement has come as a surprise.

Club not informed of review

The Council states:

“A review is underway of the Learn to Swim programme offered by Penrith Swimming Club.”

It also says:

“The programme is under review but no decisions have been made. Penrith Swimming Club will be consulted throughout the review.”

Prior to this statement being published, Penrith Swimming Club had not been formally informed that such a review was underway.

The club has not been provided with its terms, scope, criteria, evidence base, timetable or decision-making process.

This is particularly important because the position originally presented to PSC was very different.

On 1 August, GLL informed the club that our provision would end from 1 September. At a subsequent meeting, we were told by GLL that our provision crossed a “red line” and that there was no room for negotiation over its continuation. The proposed date has since been moved to1 January 2027.

The Council is now publicly stating that no decision has been made and that one of the options under consideration is for separate beginner Learn to Swim provision from both GLL and Penrith Swimming Club.

We welcome this change in position, but it raises important questions about how and when this review began, why the club was not formally informed and what status GLL’s 1 January deadline now has.

A Penrith Swimming Club spokesperson said:

“We welcome the Council’s apology and its recognition of the contribution Penrith Swimming Club and its volunteers have made to this community. However, we were surprised to learn through a public statement that a review of our provision is apparently already underway. Penrith Swimming Club has not been formally approached about this review, we have not been given its scope, criteria or terms and we have not been invited to agree how it will operate.

“On 1 August we were told by GLL that our provision would end. We were subsequently told it crossed a ‘red line’. We are now being told that no decision has been made and that a review is underway. We welcome that change, but we need clarity about what has changed and what happens to GLL’s 1 Januarydeadline.

“Our position is simple. If arrangements need formalising, let’s formalise them. There is room for GLL and Penrith Swimming Club to coexist. We want to work constructively with everyone involved, but any review into the future of our provision must have Penrith Swimming Club properly involved from the outset.”

Our position remains unchanged

Penrith Swimming Club has delivered this type of provision for around 40 years.

Importantly, the Council has now acknowledged that the absence of a formal agreement is not the fault of the club and that PSC has been working with the Council to formalise arrangements since2023.

We welcome the involvement of Swim England and look forward to constructive discussions with Swim England, Westmorland and Furness Council and GLL.

However, until we have certainty that our provision and the long-term sustainability of Penrith Swimming Club are protected,our campaign will continue.

More than 1,500 people have already signed our petition and we remain incredibly grateful for the support of our community.

SIGN AND SHARE OUR PETITION?

We also encourage members, former members and supporters to attend the public meeting of Penrith Town Council:

Monday 24 August | 6:00pm
Unit 2, 19–24 Friargate, Penrith

We welcome the apology. We welcome constructive dialogue. But a review concerning the future of Penrith Swimming Club’s provision must have Penrith Swimming Club properly involved.

 

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