Chirk leisure centre highlights plastic waste issues with ‘No Planet B’ sessions

A Wrexham leisure centre is highlighting the issues of plastic waste in our oceans with a series of themed swimming sessions.

Chirk Leisure & Activity Centre, operated by Freedom Leisure on behalf of Wrexham County Borough Council, is trialling a host of ‘No Planet B’ for children visiting with their school for swimming lessons.

The scheme aim to draw attention to the serious plight of the planet’s waters as a result of plastic, while bringing a new, fun and engaging element to teaching children to swim.

Sessions started on Monday 8 July and ran all week, with 13 schools committed to participating during their normal timetabled lessons.

During the week the pool hall was dressed to look like a ‘beach picnic’ with blankets covered in single use plastic food waste – along with inflatable dolphins and whales.

It is hoped that the unique swimming lessons will highlight how easy it is for the plastic to enter the water and how different types behave in the water. Swimmers are then responsible for a “beach clean” to remove all offending items from the water.

Freedom Leisure say that the scheme could be rolled out to its other local leisure centres if it proves popular.

Centre manager, David Watkin, says: “We are extremely proud of our learn to swim programme here at Chirk.

“Swimming is an essential lifesaving skill, as well as a great way to be active and enjoy other activities, so the more people in Wrexham who can swim the better.

“We currently teach around 850 children and adults to swim each week, which is a significant number.

“In addition the topic of plastic is hugely important and we feel that not only do these sessions highlight it nicely but also work really well to develop the students water skills with them barely realising it – as they are having so much fun and engaging in an important issue.”

For more information about learning to swim at Chirk Leisure & Activity Centre call 01691 778666.