CUTS to opening hours at swimming pools in Aberystwyth and Lampeter have been approved, along with a reduction in the number of swimming lessons for primary school children.

Ceredigion Cabinet members backed the measures to find savings of around £88,000 from the budget for swimming provision, which will see lessons for primary school pupils reduced from 39 lessons per 100 pupils to just 26 lessons per 100 pupils.

While there was also support for cutting opening hours for the pools at Plascrug Leisure Centre and Lampeter, there were no details about how the hours would be changed, although the council is expecting to save £20,000 in total by reducing opening hours at both pools.

However, the council said the hours would be reduced at times when attendance levels are low.

A spokesperson said: “As well as there being seasonal variations, user numbers do vary at different times of the week.

“From a business perspective, if the hours of operation are to be reduced, then it would make sense to do this at times when attendance levels are at their lowest.