YOUNGSTERS under 18 could get free entry into sports facilities if Kirklees’s ruling Conservatives get their way.

The council’s ruling party wants to allow under-18s to use sports centres for free during off-peak hours for at least the next three years.

The Tories believe this will encourage young people to get more involved in sport and ensure the area’s sports centres are well used.

Clr Elizabeth Smaje, the council Cabinet’s member for leisure services, said: “This scheme will offer our children the opportunity to get involved in sport, encourage them to get active and healthy and help keep them occupied at times when they may have little else to do.”

Off-peak times will vary from one centre to another, depending on how facilities are currently used.

Typically, off-peak could mean during school holidays and after school up to 6pm.

Clr Smaje said: “We piloted free swimming sessions for under-18s previously and these proved popular.

“But we need to look beyond just swimming and ensure other facilities in our sports centres are being fully used.

“When facilities are not in great demand during quiet times and not being used by other groups it makes sense to make them available free to our young people.”

She said the plan was part of the council’s long-term commitment to improving youth services.

It ties in with the council’s Youth Games schemes, a series of sporting events for young people being held throughout the year.

The aim is to get youngsters interested in sport and possibly develop local competitors in time for the 2012 Olympics in London.