Swim-lesson deal vexes parents

Parents are unhappy at being given only 10 days to pay for swimming lessons being run by the Timaru District Council for the first time.

Two private swim schools and a swimming club used to teach swimming, but the council is now the sole provider of lessons.

More than 600 registrations of interest were received for the classes and emails indicating the classes the children had been placed in were sent out on Friday.

Lessons will cost $120 for a 10-week term although the first term will be cheaper as it is shorter.

A parent of two children who spoke to the Herald was unimpressed at having only 10 days' notice of the fees and when they had to be paid.

She felt the deadline of Monday next week to pay the fee for her children was unreasonable considering it came at the same time she had back-to-school costs.

She questioned whether the council could have looked at easier payment options, adding she was aware of friends who had put in a registration of interest, but could not afford the upfront fee at this time.

The email from council's recreation programmes team leader, Jane Sullivan, thanked parents for their patience "as with any new business the set-up of this first term has been challenging with the development of our systems to meet such a high demand. We are now confident that our systems are in place and we look forward to delivering a high quality and professional service."

The $120 fee was similar to that charged by the previous swim schools. No longer available to parents were cheaper lessons offered by the swimming club. Swim Timaru had offered 12 30-minute lessons for $60.

The swimming club was able to offer cheaper lessons as its coaches were trained volunteers.

Direct debit monthly payment options will be available once the programme moves to CBay, recreation facilities manager Gary Easthope said yesterday.

The single upfront payment method per term had been used by the previous swim school operators in Timaru and was normal practice with most swim schools.

Final class confirmation would not be allocated until payment was made or arranged.

Payment was required by Monday to accommodate any late changes in the classes. It was not possible to a fill a gap once the term had begun, Mr Easthope said.

It was unreasonable to expect a confirmed position without payment or a special arrangement.

Staff were "working closely to assist those few people who have spoken or communicated directly with us about their individual situations," he said.

Infant and toddler programmes will be offered once CBay is operating, with registrations for those programmes being taken in April.

- © Fairfax NZ News