A COUNCIL boss has signalled a U-turn over a “nonsense” health and safety ban on goggles in school swimming lessons.

Oxfordshire County Council leader Keith Mitchell said he was “mortified” to learn of the edict after reading Friday’s Oxford Mail and would consult schools on a way forward.

This could either ignore national guidance banning goggles, subject to teacher backing, or let parents allow goggle use “and accept any consequences that may flow from it”.

He said: “I have investigated this to find that a long-standing health and safety policy was enforced by a junior officer without reference up-wards for what is an obviously politically contentious issue.

“I think the blanket ban is a nonsense and have told officers we need to relax this rule.

“But it needs to be done in consultation with schools who will have to apply it to their children.”

Writing on his blog, Mr Mitchell said he would prefer ending the ban but was “aware that schools may have some concerns about our litigious society should there be some accident related to goggle use.”

He added: “We have too many ambulance-chasing lawyers these days to ignore this threat entirely.”

The council last week refused to explain the ban.

Leicestershire County Council last year warned “dangerous” goggles could snap back in children’s faces or reduce peripheral vision.

Parents and teachers last night welcomed Mr Mitchell’s comments.

Blackbird Leys and Barton swimming teacher Bev Oakley, 59, said: “I have been teaching 500 children a week for more than 25 years.

“Of those children, about a fifth wear goggles, and I’ve never seen an accident once in all that time.”

She backed letting parents write a letter to permit goggle use, which she understood to be the current rules.

Ms Oakley, from Merton, near Bicester, said: “I was angry that I only found out about the ban because I read the Oxford Mail.

“We were never told anything.”

She added: “I think Keith Mitchell should check what is coming out of his council before it is all made public.”

Blackbird Leys parent Carmel Ryan, whose daughter, Danni McFadden, 13, wears goggles to stop her eyes hurting, said: “It was all a bit silly really.

“Goggles have been around for so long, and I don’t know anyone who has ever been hurt by them.”

The council last week said the ban was issued on advice from bodies including the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) and the Swimming Teachers Association (STA).

The ASA said it did not have a strict policy on goggle use, but offered guidance to pool operators and parents.

The STA said children should be encouraged to not wear goggles in swimming lessons, but recognised they may be necessary for medical or other reasons.

rpope@oxfordmail.co.uk