The Enniskillen Lakelanders Swimming Club “is in real jeopardy of closing” since Fermanagh and Omagh District Council (FODC) decided to increase the cost of hiring a pool lane at the Lakeland Forum by 357 per cent (£10.80 per hour).

The price hike was agreed by Councillors at a Policy and Resources Committee meeting in February and was implemented yesterday (Wednesday, April 1), going up from £4.20 per lane per hour to £15.00 per lane per hour. This would mean that the club would have to pay the Lakeland Forum an extra £600 per week which equates to £30,000 per year, instead of the £8,000 it currently pays.

The Councillors also agreed that the price of lane hire in Omagh’s new leisure complex will decrease from £20 per lane per hour to £15.

FODC officials tell The Impartial Reporter that the price increase is “reasonable” because prices have not been increased in over 10 years. Some Councillors are now trying to reverse the decision.

Prior to Monday night’s FODC meeting in Omagh, the DUP submitted a rescinding motion which was supported by the other parties. The Council has agreed that powers to review the issue be delegated to the next Policy and Resources Committee meeting on April 15.

The 100 member club, which has been in operation for 35 years catering for cross community children and people from socially disadvantaged backgrounds, fears that it will be forced to increase memberships fees from the current £250 per year, a move that will not be viable for many families.

Michael O’Kane, Chair of the Lakelanders Swimming Club, feels that “it is very unfair to enforce this increase on the club in a one off hit from one year to the next.” This is a criticial time of the year for the club, Mr. O’Kane adds. “At the weekend, we had four podium finishes at the Ulster Championships at the Aurora Leisure Complex in Bangor. One member came away with five golds and nine-year-old Ellie McCartney is the under 11 breaststroke champion. Five members are through to the Irish championships in July. We have championship swimmers who will become less competitive if we have to cut our training time in the pool,” he points out.

“Our competitive swimmers, such as the Aquasprint squad and the South West Minor League squad are preparing for the Irish Championships in Limerick and Dublin in June and July. Reducing pool time to those swimmers will have a major impact on their ability to reach their goals and achieve the levels of success the club has had over the past few years.” The club will have to cancel its Easter training schedule. It risks losing its head coach Chelsey Wilson, who swam in the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

“The club is in real jeopardy of closing,” Mr. O’Kane continues.

He has met Fermanagh and Omagh District Council’s Director of Community, Health and Leisure Robert Gibson and suggested that the club pay £5 per lane per hour.

“I feel that this is a fair proposal that is based on a block booking and advanced payment model. However, Mr. O’Kane states: “I don’t expect a favourable outcome.” In an email to members on Tuesday, Mr. O’Kane wrote: “Unfortunately despite all our diplomatic efforts over the past number of weeks, the Council has advised that until a review has taken place at the next Council Meeting, the increases in fees will go ahead.” A spokeswoman from FODC tells The Impartial Reporter: “It is natural that in a new council district, ratepayers throughout the district should expect to pay the same price for the same council service where possible. For this to come into effect, a process of harmonisation needs to take place. This process is likely to take some time.” Asked how FODC can justify the increased costs for hire of the Lakeland Forum pool, which has not been updated in many years, compared to Omagh Leisure Complex’s new 25 metre pool, 14 metre learner pool and 25 seat jacuzzi, a spokeswoman replies: “An analysis of Fermanagh Lakeland Forum’s pricing structure showed there had been no price increase of hiring the pool at Fermanagh Lakeland Forum for more than 10 years. It is therefore reasonable that there should be a price increase.” She adds: “We are aware of Enniskillen Lakelanders Swimming Club request to increase the cost of lane hire by 20 per cent from £4.20 to £5 per hour. Discussions have taken place between Council Officers and Enniskillen Lakelanders Swimming Club regarding the club’s concern about the pool hire price increase and these are ongoing.” Erne North DUP Councillor David Mahon delivered the motion to have the decision reviewed, stating; “The Lakelanders Amateur Swimming Club, and other clubs like them, are a great means of getting young people socialising, fit and healthy and to financially penalise them out of business would be wrong.” He said: “The proposed hike in swimming pool fees is something we are unwilling to accept.” Asked why he and the other 39 Councillors agreed to the price hike in the first place, he replies: “A report was brought to us and we went along with the recommendations.” He added: “I certainly wasn’t aware that there would be a group that would be so adversely affected.”