THE company which runs Ledbury Swimming Pool says it is a "business decision" to give the parents of Ross children an 80% discount, when Ledbury people must pay the full amount.

An annoyed Ledbury parent, who has asked not to be named, told the Reporter: "Halo are giving Ross parents and carers a discount of 80% - £5 per month as opposed to the normal £25 – as they have to travel to Ledbury pool for their childrens’ swimming lessons, whilst the Ross pool upgrade work takes place.

"Those who normally use Ledbury pool for their childrens’ lessons are receiving no discount at all in light of the pool and changing areas being so much busier, and pool being divided up more to cater for additional lessons.

"It strikes me that the discount is too large and Ledbury pool users, children and their parents, are being unfairly treated."

The claim of unfairness has been denied by Alex Haines, Halo's partnership manager, who said that Ledbury pool had been running at below capacity for the lessons, before the recent influx of Ross children.

He said: "We are looking after our members from Ross from a business point of view, because we want to keep them swimming and we want them to return to Ross pool, when it re-opens.

"It is a business decision.

"Ledbury was not running at capacity, not at all. but we are looking at easing the pressure. Staff on sight are looking at ways to achieve this."

The Wednesday evening sessions have already been identified as a busy "pinch point" by Halo staff.

Ross Pool will be closed until June next year, and the discount given to Ross parents for children's lessons is in response to travel costs and the inconvenience of having to temporarily re-locate to Ledbury.

Halo figures show that Ledbury Pool had 480 participants for its children's swimming lesson programme, prior to the recent re-location of the Ross swimmers.

Now there are 720 children attending the lessons at Ledbury - a rise of 240, - leading to claims of overcrowding, which Halo deny.

Mr Haines said: "We have actively encouraged Ross parents to temporarily relocate their children to Ledbury as we had identified spare capacity within the programme.

"Both programmes have the capability of having over 800 children attending."

He added: "Based on these figures it was felt no undue inconvenience was being placed on Ledbury swimmers and as such no discount would be applied."

The large discount is only for users from Ross, for the children's lessons programme.

Ledbury's mayor, Cllr Bob Barnes said: "It is a large discount, - and will that be reciprocated when Ledbury pool is refurbished next year?

"That is a question which will need asking when that occurs."