Hugh demands Minister address problems

MINISTER BLAMES CIVIL SERVANTS OVER FAVERSHAM POOLS ROW

The Minister for Sport, Richard Caborn, has blamed civil servants in two government bodies, the Institute of Sport and Recreational Management (ISRM) and the Health and Safety Executive for the ruling that prevents parents taking more than two children under the age of eight into Faversham Pools. The issue was highlighted as a result of a campaign run by Amanda Horsfall Turner and reported in the Faversham News.

The Minister’s remarks were made in a reply to Hugh Robertson MP who took up the case on Mrs Horsfall Turner’s behalf.

Hugh said: “I am outraged that the Minister should seek to avoid any responsibility over this daft ruling. Governments are there to govern not to pass the blame onto Civil Servants.

“The advice to write to the Amateur Swimming Association and Sport England is, quite frankly, pathetic. Mr Caborn is the Minister for Sport and he should sort this out.

Swimming pools are petrified of being sued if a child has an accident – which is a sad reflection on the current state of our society. The obvious answer would be to change the guidance or to ask parents to sign a waiver. This really is the nanny state gone crazy and it is depriving whole families of healthy exercise and an enjoyable time together.”