A swimming coach today criticised legislation which has seen a dramatic drop in the number of youngsters visiting pools in Castle Point.
Kay Mullaly, 60, of Long Road, Canvey, holds swimming classes at Furtherwick Park School on Canvey every week and spoke out in a bid to get the restrictive new pool rules reversed.
Rules at all council-run pools in the borough state there must be an adult to accompany every child under the age of four.
Having taught at the Waterside Sports Centre, Mrs Mullaly can appreciate the problems this can case for families.
She said: "I know this is a health and safety issue but the numbers of children able or learning to swim are really going down.
"A mother with twins can't take them swimming on her own until they are nine - and this is definitely having a negative effect on how many children are going swimming."
The rules have been in place for more than a year but Conservative councillor Ray Howard responded sympathetically to Mrs Mullaly's comments.
He said: "I see no problem in re-examining the situation.
"But ultimately, we are in a very difficult situation. For while it is just a recommendation, if we were to ignore it and an accident was to occur we would be condemned."
Published Friday, May 30, 2003
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