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West End Extra - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 15 August 2008

An extra investment in leisure

• YOUR article (Poorest should get personal trainers, August 8) overlooked the good news that Westminster residents will gain extra investment in sport.
Although we are still working through the detail, we are looking forward to potential tax savings by virtue of a new parent company which runs our centres, which, once confirmed, will be reinvested in improved facilities.
But I would like to correct a couple of errors. You stated that a female Muslim swimming club at the Seymour Leisure Centre was told it could not have any more sessions. That is simply untrue. There was one occasion in April when we were unable to provide a female lifeguard for this club, but that was a one-off due to staff difficulties. There are a wide variety of women-only sessions offered at Seymour Leisure Centre each week, as well as several other of our leisure centres, and we aim to use female lifeguards wherever possible.
Also, free swimming is not only offered to “residents claiming benefits” as one of your interviewees stated, but also to their family dependents, and a wide range of residents both young and old and those receiving invalidity / incapacity benefits. We also offer significant discounts to these groups to use our gyms, squash courts and health suites.
Westminster Council is fully committed to improving sport and leisure for all our residents, and to the removal of barriers which might prevent some sections of the community taking advantage of them.
Cllr Gwyneth Hampson
Deputy Cabinet Member for Customers and Neighbourhoods

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, West End Extra, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@westendextra.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Wednesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld.
Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number.
Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

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