IT is inevitable that local authorities are casting around for cuts to services to make at this time of year, as budgets loom large and books need to be balanced in the face of increasing austerity.

Difficult decisions have to be made about where the funding axe will fall, and while councils are hamstrung by the amount of funding they receive from central government it cannot be avoided that many groups and organisations who receive funding will be disappointed in some way.

It does seem especially short-sighted, though, to consider slashing the funding given to an elite swimming programme in the district which has turned out top-level sportspeople, including Commonwealth and even Olympic-level swimmers.

The exact nature of the cuts to the money given to the City of Bradford Swimming Club – and whether they will happen at all – will be determined next week, but in the meantime swimmers have spoken out against the proposals.

They are right to do so. Swimming is a sport which can be enjoyed by everyone, is relatively inexpensive to participate in, and which has measurable health benefits at a time when a growing number of young people are drifting into obesity.

The elite swimming programme identifies those with real potential who can go on to do great things in the sport – carrying with them the good name of the district.

It is to be hoped that the council sees sense and finds some way to avoid slashing the funding to this much-needed programme.