The president of Perth Swim Club says the Scottish Government must match the UK Government’s pledge to help keep public pools open.
Later this week Live Active Leisure will decide if it will go ahead with proposals to close Perth Leisure Pool.
There has been widespread backlash to this proposal and almost 5,000 people have signed a petition against it.
However, in Wednesday’s spring budget UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is expected to provide £63 million to help keep public swimming pools in England open.
Gordon Currie, president of Perth Swim Club, says the Scottish Government must now follow suit to make sure Perth Leisure Pool is saved from closure.
‘This problem is not unique to England’
The UK Government is due to give this funding to Sport England, who will then spend the money on maintaining pools south of the border.
It is hoped this fund will ease the pressure of rising energy costs and help facilities to become more energy efficient.
Mr Currie said this needs to be replicated in Scotland.
He said: “It would be good if our government was to follow suit.
“I think the tone is set, but it is becoming clear there needs to be funding to keep pools open.
“This problem is not unique to England, which is why the same level of funding needs to be given to pools in Scotland.”
He said many Scottish pools, including Perth Leisure Pool, are struggling with heating costs because of soaring energy prices and the cost of living crisis.
Mr Currie added: “Perth only has one pool, so it is that or nothing and the thought of nothing is completely unacceptable.”
MSP to press the Scottish Government
Perth-based Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser has echoed the swim club president’s call.
He said: “I would hope the Scottish Government would embark on a similar scheme as there will be Barnett consequentials involved here with the move set to be announced by the chancellor in Wednesday’s budget by the UK Government.
“Funding from schemes like this would help the likes of Live Active Leisure in Perth and go a long way to help them keep the leisure pool open in the city.”
Mr Fraser added he will now put pressure on the Scottish Government to open up a similar fund to the one in England.
Council committed to supporting pool
In its 2023-24 budget, Perth and Kinross Council protected its funding for Live Active Leisure, the arms-length organisation which runs the swimming pool and a number of other sports facilities in the region.
It is feared this is not enough to keep the pool open and the board of directors will meet on Thursday to decide the pool’s future.
A spokeswoman for Perth and Kinross Council said councillors rejected proposals to lower Live Active Leisure’s funding in its budget, and instead allocated an extra £110,000 to help the group keep services running in rural areas.
The council also set aside £150,000 to carry out a review of all leisure and culture facilities.
Grant Laing, leader of Perth and Kinross Council, said his administration is now committed to reviewing Live Active Leisure to see if they can make savings in the 2024/25 budget.
He said: “This administration was pleased to support Live Active Leisure in this year’s budget.
“However, the important services delivered through our arms-length organisations must be affordable and sustainable.”
A spokesman for the Scottish Government said it is waiting to hear the spring budget before considering what the impact on Scottish finances will be.
They added: “We are fully aware that energy costs are an issue facing many sports facilities and we have pressed the UK Government to act on the cost of living and energy prices, in order to address the problem at source.”
The Scottish Government also says it recognises the challenges local authorities face in maintaining swimming pools and says it is in regular contact with sportscotland and Scottish Swimming on this issue.
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