Fife parents say the planned closure of leisure centre creche facilities could mean cancelled gym memberships.
Creche facilities are currently available at Carnegie, Duloch, Cowdenbeath, Dalgety Bay and Michael Woods leisure centres, meaning parents can drop off their children while they keep fit.
But Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, which manages the Fife Council-owned centres, has confirmed the creches are under review.
Full-time mother Sarah-Jane Redpath, 30, is among the parents urging the trust to reconsider.
Ms Redpath, who has daughters aged seven and two, uses the creche at Carnegie Leisure Centre in Dunfermline four times a week and said the closure would be “life-changing”.
She said: “Exercise is how I stay mentally and physically well. I can’t imagine my life without it.
“As a mum of young children I rely on the creche at Carnegie in order to use the classes and have a full membership.”
A number of parents have said they would be unable to use the trust’s leisure facilities without the creche facilities being available, and Ms Redpath said the proposed closure could be detrimental if memberships are cancelled.
“If the creche closes I’ll have to cancel my membership as I won’t be able to attend classes with my two-year-old in tow, plus a six-year-old in all the holidays,” she said.
“I also know from speaking to other parents that use the creche and attend the same classes as me that there will be a number of us in the same position.”
She added: “I really hope we can save it or at the very least get a meeting with the trust to fight our case and put some suggestions forward as to how they could make the creches a better used, more profitable service.”
A Fife Sports and Leisure Trust spokesperson said: “In order to balance the delivery of high-quality facilities and programmes our customers have come to expect and realise necessary budget savings, the trust must examine all areas of the business, and in particular, those which are not commercially viable.
“This process is ongoing, and, the operation of crèches is an area which is currently under review.
“Where decisions regarding any changes to operations are required, the trust will strive to minimise any impact on our customers.
“The trust is committed to providing affordable, sustainable sports and leisure opportunities to all the communities of Fife in order that more people can enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of physical activity.”
