PARENTS have been left high and dry after a council decided not to reverse strict new swimming rules at its largest leisure centre.

Campaigners had hoped that Maidstone council would do a U-turn on new regulations governing the child swimming policy at Maidstone Leisure Centre.

But after a two-month battle, parents have been left disappointed at the council's admission that reversing the rules would put officers and councillors directly in the "firing line".

The guidelines, introduced at the pool in March, state that every child aged three and under must be accompanied in the water by an adult aged over 16 on a one-to-one basis.

An adult over 16 must also accompany four to seven-year-olds on a two-to-one basis.

Previously, the centre, which is run by contractors Serco, asked that all children aged eight or under were accompanied by an adult on a one-to-two basis.

Now the rules will only be partly relaxed at certain times of day. A lone parent will be allowed to take their children swimming on any day up until 10am and at other very restricted times.

Campaigners say these times are unrealistic and still deny them the right to teach their children to swim.

Maidstone council cabinet member for recreation and community services, Cllr Roger Berriman (Lab), had to single-handedly decide at a meeting whether or not to overturn the rules.

"I'm aware there has been a large amount of controversy over this," he said. "I have to make a decision on behalf of the council and protect the council's interests.

"There is enough to tell me that the council would be very unwise to allow, or even ask Serco, to revert to its previous rules. I'm very aware that people might be aggrieved about this but for me, and the council, safety is paramount," he added.

Carolyn Warner, who set up the Right To Swim Campaign after being refused entry to the pool with her children, Aaron, six, and Keiran, one, said she felt very sad at the decision.

"I think that was dismissive," she stressed said after the meeting. "I feel it was dismissive of all the parents who have made the effort to get out of their seats and make their voices heard."

She added: "When I had my children, they became my responsibility and now I feel the council is telling me that I no longer am allowed to bear that responsibility when I go to take them swimming.

"The only plus point is that I can look Aaron and Kieran in the face and tell them that I did everything I could to try and allow them to swim."

Mrs Warner, of Vinters Park, Maidstone, said she was now looking at whether there was any other way to fight the decision.

On Saturday, the Right To Swim campaigners let off balloons in Week Street, Maidstone, to launch the campaign's website, www.righttoswim.co.uk