Kerry is lending her support to the petition started by Cllr. Ron Stone to save the city’s free swimming for under sixteen’s and over sixties.
Cllr Ron Stone says the Lib Dems in Bristol seem set on backing the Coalition government cuts to free swimming which start at the end of July, whilst the Lib Dem city council in Newcastle are allowing the scheme to continue and funding it themselves.
“What I can’t understand is that the Lib Dems who run Newcastle City Council recognise the value of free swimming to the over 60s and the under 16s and have decided to fund it despite governments cuts in spending - why can’t we do the same in Bristol?
“What I want to know is if the Lib Dems in Newcastle don’t have to follow the Lib Dem/Tory government line – why do the Lib Dems in Bristol slavishly support their government when clearly they don’t have to?” say Cllr Ron Stone, Labour, St George West.
Cllr Stone has started an online petition and asks everyone – especially those who have taken advantage of the former Labour government’s free swims offer – to sign it and use public opinion to change the minds of the ruling Lib Dems in Bristol.
http://epetitions.bristol.gov.uk/epetition_core/community/petition/911
Speaking on the matter, Kerry said “the health benefits and positive impact of free swimming, have provided an invaluable difference to people’s lives. The council should be fighting to protect it and not supporting these detrimental cuts.”