KNUTSFORD’S swimming club faces an uncertain future if it is forced to scrap a programme designed to teach youngsters the basic skills of their sport.

Everybody Sport and Recreation, which manages the pool in town on behalf of Cheshire East Council, have proposed their own staff will run all Learn to Swim schemes there instead.

“The potential impact on us is huge,” said Richard Baldry, Vikings’ acting chairman.

“We could lose half of our members.”

At the moment, a combination of volunteers and paid coaches deliver tailored classes on the club’s behalf help beginners transition to competitive swimming.

In a letter seen by the Guardian, Everybody Sport promise to recommend to young swimmers that they join the club after reaching the end of their scheme.

“The truth is there’s no guarantee they will,” said Baldry.

“As children get older, they are tempted by other sports and distractions.

“If they’ve joined our programme at the start, they’re more likely to stay as members for longer.

“At the very least, we believe parents should have a choice.”

Everybody Sport disagree, insisting all clubs based at council pools in the borough must stop their own schemes by April next year.

If they refuse to sign an agreement to do so, they risk forfeiting water time for their members that is currently ring-fenced.

“A standard pool-hire option is available but any applications that include the delivery of a Learn to Swim scheme will be rejected,” warns the letter.

The charitable trust, operated on a not-for-profit basis, say the policy change is a response to ‘increasing financial pressures’.

They add: “A more commercial approach will maximise capacity for income to ensure our survival.”

Vikings plan to talk to neighbouring clubs affected in the same way before they decide what to do next.