DISABLED people could be able to swim for free at the Thomas Hardye Leisure Centre.

West Dorset District Council is looking at extending the free swimming scheme at the Dorchester pool, which currently caters for under-16s and over-60s.

Former swimming teacher Pat Aplin, who helps run a group for disabled people to swim and exercise at the pool, said she would be thrilled to see the scheme extended.

She said: “If you see the benefits of swimming for disabled people they are unbelievable.

“They are totally different because they have all the support from the water.”

The group has recently dwindled to just three swimmers but Mrs Aplin is confident there will be plenty of demand for disabled swimmers if they are allowed to go for free.

She said: “At the moment if they want to go it costs £10.80 for four lessons. The majority of disabled people are on benefits.”

The free swimming scheme, which was launched last April as part of a Government initiative, has proved a resounding success so far – with swimmer numbers more than doubling.

Participation in the free swimming initiative has also seen the council receive a host of Government grants, including £602,000 towards the funding of a new pool at the Thomas Hardye Leisure Centre site.

A report prepared for West Dorset District Council’s executive committee revealed that from April to October 2009 a total of 47,202 free swims were taken at the leisure centre, as well as 13,538 paid for swims.

By comparison, there was a total of 42,761 swims for all ages taken over the 2008/09 financial year – the year before the scheme was introduced.

The report stated that, while the centre was likely to see a loss of around £30,000 in income from casual swimming over the year, the council was receiving £96,885 in Government grants for offering free swimming as well as receiving a one-off grant of £29,159.

West Dorset District Council leader Robert Gould said: “I think our original decision to participate in the Government’s free swimming initiative has been clearly vindicated.”

The committee agreed to recommend that the Thomas Hardye Leisure Centre’s management committee consider extending the scheme to include free swimming for disabled people of all ages from April.

After members were alerted to the fact that the free swimming scheme was due to finish in spring 2011, just as the new Thomas Hardye pool was due to open, the committee also agreed to hold back some of the grant money so that some sort of concessionary scheme could be put in place at the new centre.