Part of borough celebrations over half term
Young people in Wandsworth will be able to enjoy free swimming sessions at local leisure centres over the summer half-term holiday as part of the borough’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
The private company that manages Wandsworth’s leisure centres and the borough’s four indoor swimming pools has agreed to allow under-16s to swim for free during the school’s half term holiday from Saturday, June 2 to Sunday, June 10 .
Bosses at DC Leisure are offering young people free swimming sessions at the Putney leisure centre in Battersea and also at Balham, Tooting and Latchmere leisure centres.
The decision to mark the Diamond Jubilee in this way was inspired by events from more than a century ago when the last British monarch celebrated six decades on the throne. In 1897 for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, it was proposed to "give a treat to the poor children of Battersea in the form of a Jubilee Meal".
As well as free swimming sessions, the borough will be marking the jubilee by hosting a huge festival in Battersea Park on Sunday, June 3. This coincides with the spectacular 1,000-boat river pageant that will be weaving its way along the Thames.
And over that same jubilee bank holiday weekend, the council is also encouraging residents to join the royal celebrations by staging their own street parties. So far 164 are planned across Wandsworth.
The council has stripped away all the red tape and cost of holding a street party over the bank holiday weekend of June 2 to June 5. The normal £50 road closure fee has been waived and all the other information that’s required can be submitted online via a simple internet questionnaire.
This simplified system means there is nothing to stop residents setting up tables and chairs and enjoying a great neighbourhood get-together to celebrate The Queen’s 60 years on the throne.
To find out more about street closures and to apply online visit www.wandsworth.gov.uk/streetparties. Organisers can also call (020) 8871 6712 or email streetworks@wandsworth.gov.uk for advice.
For more information about the borough’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations log on to www.wandsworth.gov.uk/jubilee.
May 4, 2012