Council denies racism charge

Wolverhampton City Council has defended its ethnic minority-only swimming sessions, following accusations of racism.

The council was criticised in the local and national press for running its weekly black and Asian-only swimming session. Pool users have complained that the practice amounts to racism denying others access to the pool during the sessions.

The session is part of the Kelloggs Active Swim Campaign, which is being delivered in conjunction with the Amateur Swimming Association in an attempt to improve the health of all of the city’s residents.

The 12-month pilot project targets groups the council says don’t participate as actively in swimming as other members of the community. These include obese children and adults as well as those from black and minority ethnic groups.

The council stressed that it was not excluding anyone from the scheme and that it was not, as some reports have suggested, specifically designed for muslims.

Councillor John Reynolds, Wolverhampton City Council cabinet member for leisure and culture, said: “We similarly target other groups who are under-using the service, for example older people and women. Nonetheless, we must stress that we do not turn away anyone from this or other swimming promotion schemes on the basis of ethnicity.”