Advancement in Position - Swimming pools that offer lessons are set to receive financial assistance.
Small cities with populations of up to 50,000 will be given financial assistance by the government for their swimming pools if they offer swimming lessons. This decision was made by the Thuringian Parliament on Friday, with the support of the Red-Red-Green and CDU factions. The total amount set aside for this is five million euros. This money is intended to offset the significantly increased costs of heating and hot water.
This new policy applies to baths in Bad Tabarz, Bad Lobenstein, Hildburghausen, Heiligenstadt, Sömmerda, Pößneck, and Eisenberg, among others. It's also about making it possible for school swimming programs. The funds will be drawn from the Corona and Energy Special Fund of the state.
Katja Maurer, a municipal politician from the Left, stated that municipalities can apply for financial support until August 10th. Payments are expected to start at the end of August.
The CDU faction in the opposition reminded everyone that it was their persistence that led to the population threshold being raised to 50,000. Red-Red-Green had previously planned it at 20,000 inhabitants.
Furthermore, the Landtag also approved an initiative from the FDP, which aims to create a new swimming pool development concept. The current one has been in existence for around 20 years, according to the parliamentary debate.
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The financial aid for swimming pools in municipalities with populations up to 50,000 is expected to boost leisure time activities, such as swimming lessons and school swimming programs. This aid is significant for municipalities like Erfurt, Bad Tabarz, and Hildburghausen, as the increased costs of heating and hot water are alleviated. The decision was a collaboration between the Red-Red-Green and CDU factions in the Thuringian Parliament. The CDU also highlighted their role in raising the population threshold from 20,000 to 50,000. Additionally, the Thuringian Parliament approved an initiative from the FDP to develop a new swimming pool concept, replacing the current one that has been in use for approximately 20 years.
