THE MP for North Shropshire has called on Shropshire Council to help ensure swimming lessons are available for people from Whitchurch.

The town has been without a pool since 2020, while a new multi-million pound pool is not expected to be built before 2025.

This has led to Helen Morgan warning that a generation could miss out on swimming lessons unless the unitary authority takes action while the town is without a pool.

The Liberal Democrat MP urged Shropshire Council to ensure there are enough swimming lessons in the county to accommodate Whitchurch children and that transport is provided so that people from Whitchurch do not miss out.

Ms Morgan spoke about being able to swim being a vital life skill.

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She said: "It’s good news that a replacement pool is on the way, however there will be a generation of children in Whitchurch who miss out on learning to swim unless alternative provision is put in place while the new site is built.

"Therefore it is crucial that Shropshire Council makes sure that enough capacity is in place elsewhere and that transport is provided so that children can access these swimming lessons.

"Learning to swim is a key life skill and one that no child should be deprived of because of where they happen to live."

Meanwhile, councillors in Shropshire will meet tomorrow (Thursday, September 22) to discuss the plans for the new pool.

They have been asked to support it so work can begin "at pace".