DISGRUNTLED swimming pool users have criticised Tendring Council after it cut free lessons for leisure card holders.

The council offers One cards, which give holders access to services at council-run leisure facilities across the district for a monthly fee.

One of the services offered for One card holders was inclusive swimming lessons, but these have now been cut from the included activities.

And the move has upset some of the fitness enthusiasts who used the service.

Victoria Gusterson, who pays for the One Active card package, said: “It is a very disappointing decision and we can’t understand why the council has made this taken it."

Victoria said a lot of members have already cancelled or decided not to renew their membership.

Tendring Council said the decision was made because not enough people used the lessons to make them cost effective, with only two per cent of card holders taking them up.

A spokesman said: “Overall the adult classes were running at just over 50 per cent occupancy and therefore we had to consider the viability of continuing to include them in the direct debit membership.

“All memberships include other activities as well as lessons, so still remain good value for money.”