AN ACTION plan will be unveiled soon after councillors reacted furiously to cuts in school swimming budgets.

The Government has ordered education authorities to pass on the responsibility for school swimming to individual schools.

Coun Gordon Birtwistle told Burnley Council he was horrified to hear that children were no longer going to swimming lessons. He said: "The Government pledged to increase education facilities. This is yet another one they are cutting."

Coun Harry Brooks said the decision had put children's lives in danger.

Coun Peter Kenyon deplored what had happened and hoped governors would use their budgets to help resolve the issue.

Coun Enid Tate, chairman of governors at Ightenhill primary school, said the allocation of money had been reduced drastically and they had decided that only one year would go swimming.

That was only possible because they were within walking distance of Gannow baths.

Council leader Stuart Caddy said he was appalled at what had happened and supported a resolution calling for the budget for school swimming to be reinstated.

Recreation chairman Barry Guttridge said: "It is very regrettable that the county council took this decision.

"The officers of leisure in Burnley have put together an action plan to deal with the situation and their recommendations will go to next week's meeting."

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