Cozenton Park Centre Prices Released

Cozenton Park Centre Prices Released

Medway Liberal Democrats are pleased to see that the date for the opening of the brand-new swimming pool at the Cozenton Park Sports Centre has been set for 17th July. However, we are concerned that the prices announced could be too high for many people, forcing Medway residents to travel to our neighbouring local authorities to swim.

The prices for a ‘Fun Splash’, where you get access to the fun pool as well as the lane pool, have been set at £12.50 for an adult and £10.35 for a child. Medway doesn’t have a family discount ticket, this means it would cost a family of four £45.70 to attend. In comparison, that same family could visit the Swallows Family Pool in Sittingbourne for £18.70 or could visit the Lagoon Pool at Mote Park in Maidstone for £28.10. This means that Cozenton Park Sports Centre will be well over twice as expensive than visiting Sittingbourne and 63% more expensive than visiting Maidstone.

With the cost-of-living crisis hitting all families in Medway, we are worried many people will just vote with their feet and spend their money in our neighbouring local authorities, thereby reducing the Council’s much-needed revenue. For some of the poorer families in Medway, these prices are out of reach of what they can afford, and so will not take their kids swimming at all to this fun pool, especially as Medway Council has abolished the free child swimming. 

Stuart Bourne, Lib Dem candidate for Gillingham & Rainham, says ‘Many people have raised concerns about these high prices, with them saying they can’t afford to visit the new Splashes. Cozenton Park Sports Centre was an expensive investment for Medway Council. We don’t want it to turn into another white elephant. Also we all paid for this facility, that means everyone should be able to use it.’

The Medway Liberal Democrats are calling on Medway Council to publish its rationale behind these prices, including all the assumptions that were made on future visitor numbers. We also continue to call on them to reinstate free child swimming in Medway, to ensure all of Medway get to enjoy this amazing new swimming pool.