COUNCILLORS are weighing up a sensational u-turn to reinstate free swimming for Inverclyde's over-60s.

Members of the local SNP group have taken the plunge to call for cross-party support from their colleagues in the Municipal Buildings.

Free swimming for older people was axed earlier this year as part of local authority budget cuts.

But the controversial decision sparked a storm of protest and over 1,000 people signed a petition against it.

Councillor Chris McEleny, who is head of the SNP group, says he and his fellow elected members 'got it wrong'.

Cllr McEleny said: "I've heard people make good points about no longer being able to afford swimming, about that being the only perk they ever got after paying their lot to the 'corporation/council' all their days.

"There's also been a really strong case about the impact this might have on local businesses, as it would be cheaper to just hop on the bus out of town for the day now.

"I think we got the decision wrong, the SNP group think we got it wrong and we think the council got it wrong.

"It's now time to fix that."

The Gourock councillor - backed by party colleagues Jim McEleny and John Crowther - accepts it will be tough to find the money for the council to bring free swimming back for over-60s but says there are avenues to explore.

Those include copying the Scottish Government's free OAP bus pass model, which would mean Inverclyde Leisure being subsidised for each swim - as opposed to being handed a large cash grant up front.

Cllr McEleny says this would mean keeping closer tabs on how many people take advantage of the scheme and possibly increasing the age threshold to 65.

He said: "I think these are ideas worth looking at but for now the main task should be to look at how we can find the funding to get the policy back in place so that older people in Inverclyde can start to benefit again from a very good policy."

Councillor Crowther says he has been inundated by messages from constituents unhappy at the free swimming axe.

He said: "We have to take into account what they are saying and review the situation for the next budget."

His colleague Jim McEleny will also raise the issue with the Inverclyde Leisure board, which he is a member of.

He said: "All parties agreed to cut free swimming but, taking on board the number of representations we've all had, it's time to look at it again and see about reinstating it."

A council spokesman added: "Proposals were put out to public consultation and the responses considered by the cross-party members budget working group.

"The savings, which were then agreed by the full council in March, are now being implemented."