Frustrated parents are among the hundreds of people who have signed a petition to support an under threat family-run swimming school in Harrow.

The future of Hatch End Swim School is uncertain after the group was told its swim time at Hatch End Swimming Pool in Uxbridge Road in Harrow, could be cut.

The school was set up 40 years ago by 85-year-old Bill Bristow.

Bill's granddaughter, Clare Foskett set up the petition two weeks ago after the school was told their swim time could be reduced.

She told getwestlondon : "I set the petition up on the advice of a group of parents who bring their children to Hatch End Swim School.

"They were so frustrated that the classes their children love to attend were going to be taken away.

"My family have worked incredibly hard for forty years to earn the reputation they have now, and I’m so proud of them – I had to do something to help them save their swim school."

85-year-old Bill has been teaching at the school since its inception

According to Mrs Foskett, the sport and leisure company, Everyone Active, plan to take away the school's Tuesday and Saturday sessions, leaving them with a Friday session.

Mrs Foskett claimed if this time is taken away, they will not be able to accommodate the large demand for swimming lessons and swim teachers will also lose their jobs.

One of those teachers is Mr Bristow who teaches advanced simmers twice a week.

Mr Bristow became Harrow's first channel swimmer when he won the Cross Channel Race in 1959 and set up Hatch End Swim School in 1976.

Mr Bristow told getwestlondon: "I’m devastated, and not just because it’s the end of an era for me.

"Harrow needs good swim schools with experienced teachers and coaches to prepare children to swim for competitive clubs.

"If swim schools like ours close, it affects the national interest."

Bill after swimming the Channel in 1959

Mrs Foskett claimed more than 90 swimming pools have been contacted in an attempt to find alternative teaching time, but she was unable to find any time available in the local area.

The swimming pool is run by Everyone Active, which is a delegated leisure services provider for Harrow Council.

In response to the petition, Harrow contract manager for Everyone Active, John Sewell said no decision has yet been made.

Mr Sewell said: " Since Hatch End Swimming Pool won third place in the ASA Swim Scheme of the Year award, the demand for lessons has significantly increased, as has demand for public swimming.

"It was decided that in order to cater for this demand, some of the current pool space hired privately will need to be renegotiated.

"Harrow Council are currently involved in negotiations and no decisions have been made yet, but any sessions removed will be replaced with swimming lessons and public swimming, which is not readily available throughout the borough.

"Hatch End Swim Club hire the facility on a 30 day termination agreement but Everyone Active has offered to keep the sessions active until July, enabling the club to inform parents and also have time to find another facility.

"Some space will be removed but again no decision on which sessions has been made yet.

"Our Byron Quarter development aims to provide a new or improved Leisure Centre at the heart of Harrow, including swimming provision.”

The petition, which has now closed, will be considered by Harrow Council.

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