Footfall (or flipperfall?) to Kenilworth swimming facilities has risen since indoor pools were allowed to reopen on April12.

Latest figures received by Warwick District Council are showing an uplift in demand for pools at Abbey Fields, as well as St Nicholas Park in Warwick and Newbold Comyn in Leamington Spa.

A 25 per cent increase in swim subscribers, combined with the return of swimming lessons, has meant that the pool space at all the district's leisure centres has been at a premium, with extended opening being considered to accommodate the rise in demand.

Everyone Active's Contract Manager, Gareth Wagg commented: "We're delighted to welcome all swimmers back into our pools. We're particularly pleased to see the return of school groups and the swimming lesson programme, restarting the teaching of a potentially life-saving skill."

"There are currently more than 500 children enrolled on parent and baby or Stage 1 swimming classes across the district and after so many months of closure parents have been keen to build their children's confidence in the water especially before the summer holidays."

Warwick District Council's Portfolio Holder for Culture, Tourism & Leisure, Councillor Liam Bartlett added: "As widely reported by Swim England and former Olympian Duncan Goodhew, more than 5 million swimming lessons have been cancelled during the Covid pandemic which has meant that 240,000 children across the country have missed out on learning to swim.

"It's therefore vitally important that we prioritise the availability of lessons across our indoor pools in Kenilworth, Leamington and Warwick."

"With a recent survey by the District Councils' Network indicating that around a third of council-run leisure centres in England are facing closure, I'm very proud that our outstanding centres at Newbold Comyn and St Nicholas Park are thriving and that we are bucking this trend with our exciting investment plans for Kenilworth."