Barking and Dagenham council want 2 local and family friendly clubs to merge. Both Dagenham Swimming Club and Becontree Swimming Club have massive histories as swimming clubs and much local support. Both have been successful in the past and are looking to be successful in the future. A friendly rivalry has built up, with both clubs pushing each other to bigger and better things, yet work together to bring the best swimmers to the borough. However, with a merger the risk is that they could not work together and end up not existing at all. The council also want to wrestle control of the very successful Dagenham Swim School from Dagenham Swimming Club and use it as their own Borough swimming lessons. The Swim school is extremely successful with swimmers moving into not just Dagenham Swimming Club but Becontree, Killerwhales and Hornchurch Swimming Clubs. If the merger goes ahead, less young people would have the opportunity to swim competitively in the borough. More talented swimmers would head out of the borough and bring other clubs success. Add your names to this petition if you support the idea of two local clubs, with a joint aim of bringing the sport of swimming to more young people and their communities together in support. Thank you