An elite Dundee swimming club could face closure over increased fees to use council-managed pools, including the new Olympia.
Dundee City Aquatics, which has more than 250 members, says it could close in three months if additional concessions or funding are not found.
“The costs involved in running Dundee City Aquatics are becoming prohibitively expensive,” said president Blaidd Jones.
“Since June, prices to hire school swimming pools have jumped. For example, St John’s used to charge £28 and now they charge £48.
“This is made worse by the fact that our 4-6pm slot at the new Olympia pool means we cannot hire the entire thing, but just a few lanes, meaning our concession is less,” he added.
According to figures provided by Dundee City Aquatics, the club spends around £750 a week on 25-metre lane hire at the Olympia alone although the council insists these charges have not changed since the new centre opened.
“I think we have about three months left at this rate,” added Mr Jones.
Dundee City Aquatics is the main performance swimming club in Dundee and Mr Jones believes some of its members can compete at the Commonwealth Games and with Team GB.
Mr Jones added: “We get no funding from Dundee City Council and have to do everything ourselves through membership fees and fundraising.
“We can’t put our fees up as swimming is already expensive as it is. We’ve always used fundraising to bridge any funding gap but there is only so much you can do.”
A council spokesman said: “Dundee City Aquatics have already been given discounts by Leisure and Culture Dundee.
“The times taken up by the club at Olympia were specifically requested by them. There has been no increase in charges at the new Olympia for clubs for use of the 25m pool.
“Charges for the whole 50m pool at the new Olympia, which was not available at the old facility, have been set at a reduced rate for performance swimmers.
“Scottish Swimming and sportscotland have both agreed these are appropriate charges.
In relation to school pool hire, the spokesman added: “The council is mid-way through a four-year project to simplify the way it charges for hiring facilities.
“It operates on the principle that if sports facilities, rooms, halls and pitches are the same quality and size, they are the same price.
“Concession rates apply to organisations that are members of Sport Dundee, community groups and voluntary organisations approved by the council.
“Concession rates are also granted for indoor and outdoor sports when more than 75% of participants have a leisure concession card or can prove their entitlement,” he added.
A meeting between Leisure and Culture Dundee and the club is scheduled for August 9.