LETTERS: Swimming is part of the curriculum

Tony Allen wrote about the sudden closure of the Knottingley Sports Centre and Castleford Swimming Pool (Express, Thursday, January 19).

Schools in that area need a swimming pool for their compulsory swimming lessons. Swimming and water safety are part of the curriculum, and cannot be skipped. The national curriculum states that key stage 1/2 children must be taught to swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres.

I do have sympathy for councils which have had their budgets slashed by more than 40 per cent. If there is to be better swimming provision in a more modern environment, perhaps things like free public transport for children should be considered?