RESIDENTS are up in arms after swimming lessons at Witham’s leisure centre were repeatedly cancelled and refunds were not paid.

For the past few months residents have reported issues with children’s lessons at the centre on Spinks Lane, run by Fusion Lifestyle on behalf of Braintree Council.

Katie Blackmore, a Witham resident, takes her four-year-old son to swimming lessons at the centre every week and pays via direct debit. She said: “My son’s lesson on Thursday was cancelled with less than an hour’s notice.

“My son was crying, he was dressed and about to go in the pool and he stood there sobbing because he was all ready for his lesson and I had to try and calm him down.

“He is only four and does not understand why they’re being cancelled. That is the fourth in six weeks, which is understandable if they have got problems recruiting teachers.

“I put a post on the Witham Family Forum page on Facebook asking if anybody has managed to get a refund and it went crazy – it is not just me.

“Every week I go in and the chap on the reception tells me someone will phone and take my details but the phone call never materialises.”

Katie is waiting for refunds for eight cancelled lessons, totalling £56. The earliest of these dates from May, however she knows others who are still waiting for refunds to be issued from March.

Lawa Hendrie, also from Witham, is owed refunds from lessons that were cancelled in August.

She said: “I have never had to wait this long for a refund before.

“If I didn’t pay for my son’s lessons they wouldn’t let him swim.

“I feel sorry for the reception staff as they are the ones getting it in the ear, but it is out of their control.”

A spokesman for Fusion Lifestyle said: “Unfortunately, Fusion has recently had to cancel some swimming lessons at Witham Leisure Centre, which was unavoidable.

“This is something we are working hard to resolve to ensure we are offering a consistent service to all our members. Fusion would like to advise any customers who believe they are owed a refund from cancelled swimming lessons to contact their local centre in order to resolve the matter.”