West Lothian Council will continue to support a children’s learn to swim campaign in the face of potential pool closures announced by the “arms’ length trust” West Lothian Leisure (WLL).
And the council confirmed it had agreed a five year plan to help the trust develop fully funded independence.
The council laid out its plans as petitions on Change.org to save all the leisure facilities earmarked for closure piled on names.
READ MORE: Four West Lothian leisure centres set to close over budget cuts
A spokesman for the council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “We can confirm that the council will continue to support and fund the Learn2Swim programme for young people. The council will also continue to provide an annual £180,000 towards WLL’s maintenance costs.”
Broxburn pool along with the Xcite centres at Livingston and Armadale have been earmarked for closure as the leisure trust battles to stay in business.
The trust has struggled financially in recent years in the face of commercial competition and the pandemic lockdown. The council has had to supply a letter of comfort - effectively guaranteeing the trust’s financial viability - in the face of soaring costs and falling customers.
The trust had already taken the radical step of getting rid of the Low Port outdoor centre in Linlithgow last year.
The council spokesman said: “The West Lothian Leisure Board has requested the consent of the council to its proposed closure of a number of facilities within its portfolio, in order to balance its budget this financial year and, in turn, sustain its financial and operational future.
He added: “The council has not reduced WLL Management fee this year (2023/24) but has agreed to support West Lothian Leisure (WLL) to become fully self-funded with no requirement for a management fee from the council.
“This is being done on a phased approach over the next five years to assist West Lothian Leisure carry out their service redesign.”
“We do, however, also understand that WLL face significant cost pressures in the current financial year and they do require to make immediate and significant changes to their business model to address the existing deficit in their budget.
“We can confirm that the council will continue to support and fund the Learn2Swim programme for young people. The council will also continue to provide an annual £180,000 towards WLL’s maintenance costs.
“The economic climate over the next few years will continue to be extremely challenging for local public services. The council has significant and sustained budget pressures caused by increasing costs and insufficient levels of Scottish Government grant funding which is less than required for the council to deliver essential local services.
“Reductions in local government public spending have impacted council services for over 15 years and the council has made over £150 million worth of savings since 2007/08 and the council faces a further budget gap of £39.4 million over the next five years.”
Announcing the closure of the Xcite centres and the Howden Park Centre in Livingston on Wednesday the WLL Chief Executive Ben Lamb said: “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 has long been one of the best served regions in the UK in terms of leisure provision and in particular, access to swimming pools. Currently 98% of the population live within a 15-minute drive of a pool. The proposed closures will maintain the same level of access.
Mr Lamb described the Howden Park Centre as “a fantastic community facility”. But he added: “Unfortunately it is underused and has been operating at a deficit for many years, despite all efforts to reduce cost. The level of investment required to transform the facility into a thriving community theatre and arts centre is unfortunately no longer in our gift.”
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 our people will be worried about their employment prospects.
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