Lurgan Amateur Swimming Club are kicking up a storm over a £12,000 increase in fees

Should the club fold they claim Craigavon Council will have to find approximately 16,000 additional swimmers to replace the current revenue which it receives from Lurgan ASC.

The club have contacted every councillor in the borough in the hope the “unacceptable increase” could be rescinded.

Lurgan Amateur Swimming Club, currently pay £31,000 a year for the hire of Waves and Brownlow pools.

They say the reduction of a long standing discount plus an inflationary increase will result in them paying around £43,000.

“The situation is such that it is very likely to put the future of Lurgan ASC in jeopardy,” said Senior Coach at Lurgan ASC, Dorothy Johnston.

“Every year there’s a normal increase and we always budget for that,” said Dorothy.

“But this came as a total bolt from the blue.”

Dorothy said in the interests of equality council were reducing Lurgan ASC’s subsidy from 33.3 per cent to 15%.

She said all the clubs who got a subsidy of less than 15% would be brought up to that level.

“We use the pool for 24 plus hours a week. Other groups book the pool for an hour a week and get the same subsidy. With most businesses when you do things in bulk you get a better rate - not here.”

She added: “We’ve always had a good enough relationship with council. We’ve always been able to discuss minor problems. There was no consultation on this - just three week’s notice.

The club point out much of their pool hire time is at unsociable hours, for example 6am to 7.30am on several weekdays.

“Therefore it is reasonable to assume that the council will in effect lose income should the club fold,” said a committee member.

A club spokesperson added: “Craigavon Borough Council has within their gift, the means to continue to encourage and foster the swimming talent within the area. Increasing pool fees by £10,000, which forces parents to find on average a further £65 per swimmer, will not help.”

A council spokesperson said the issue was discussed at the council meeting last Wednesday night.

She said it will go before the Leisure Services Committee on Thursday for further consideration.

She also confirmed all groups would be given a 15% subsidy in a move to create equality across the board.