Three local pools are at risk of closing due to budget cuts by West Lothian Leisure - with a possible loss of 75 jobs if the closures go ahead.
A proposal has been submitted to West Lothian Council advising for a full closure of four of West Lothian Leiure’s venues across the region including Xcite Armadale, Xcite Broxburn Swimming Pool, Xcite Livingston and Howden Park Centre in Livingston.
The proposal has been submitted to West Lothian Council with a request for approval within a ‘reasonable’ timeframe.
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It has been prepared by the senior management team at West Lothian Leisure following intensive research and consideration of multiple options to address the £1.75m shortfall left following the passing of the West Lothian Council budgets in March.
That budget, which was aimed at saving West Lothian Council almost £40m over five years, included a decision for WLL to become self-funded over the next five years, via a phased reduction in its management fee.
This, alongside post pandemic cost pressures, the rising cost of running facilities and the cost of future maintenance or refurbishment, means that West Lothian Leisure is faced with a £2.95m budget gap.
As a result, some change in the provision of leisure, health and wellbeing services in the region is unavoidable.
Ben Lamb, Chief Executive of West Lothian Leisure said, of the proposals: “The purpose of West Lothian Leisure is to provide health and wellbeing services for the region, we exist to help create a West Lothian where everyone can live a healthier, happier, longer life, so closing venues is not what we want to do.
"However, in the face of multiple economic pressures, closures are the only way to secure the future of the services we provide to the people of West Lothian."
He added: “In preparing our plan, we have undertaken exhaustive research to protect much needed services and ensure that people who use the sites earmarked for closure can still access alternative leisure facilities within a 15-minute drive.
"We have, and hope to create further, capacity at some of the other sites we provide services from. They can absorb new users, and in time we hope the community will become used to the changes.”
West Lothian Leisure employs over 300 permanent staff, with 78 working across the facilities earmarked for closure.
While the charity cannot progress with or confirm any closures until the Council gives consent for the proposals, it is inevitable that people will be worried about their employment prospects. The news was shared with staff earlier today (3 May 2023).
The Chief Executive acknowledged the likely impact of the closures on staff. He said: “We understand that this news comes as a massive blow to the team.
"We are committed to finding as many redeployment opportunities as possible across our other facilities. If West Lothian Council approves the proposal, we will begin a formal process of working with our staff to assess the opportunities open to them and press on with a restructure of the organisation.”
The impact of the closures will be varied across different user groups, and West Lothian Leisure will communicate directly with affected parties on specific impacts if the Council approves the plan.
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Under the proposal, individual members will be able to use other facilities within the West Lothian Leisure portfolio of gyms and pools, Every child in the award-winning Learn2Swim programme will be provided with an alternative venue at which they can continue to enjoy learning to swim.
Swimming and sports clubs currently using the leisure venues earmarked for closure will be contacted individually with options for alternative sites at which they can continue for their activities.
Health and Wellbeing services run by West Lothian Leisure in partnership with NHS Scotland, currently using Howden Park, will be moved to other facilities within the West Lothian Leisure estate, and all users informed directly.
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