Fears for future of region's sports centres

Published 13 Mar 2010 13:21 0 Comments

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FEARS have been voiced that leisure centres across the Borders could close and jobs could be lost unless the cash-strapped council hands over the running of its sports functions to a not-for-profit trust.

At a meeting of Scottish Borders Council, councillors agreed to investigate the possibility of merging its Sport, Health And Physical Education (SHAPE) services with the Borders Sports and Leisure Trust (BSLT).

It already operates eight former local authority-run leisure centres including the running track at Tweedbank and the Gytes Leisure Centre in Peebles.

Opposition Councillor David Paterson claimed councillors would have little say on how sports services would be run in future if they were handed outwith council control.

However, BSLT insisted it was far too early in the process to talk about what may or may not happen. Ewan Jackson, BSLT, Chief Executive, said: "I am delighted that the Board of BSLT unanimously agreed to work with SBC to review the delivery of sport within the region and consider the benefit of integrating services.

"There are some obvious and tangible benefits to merging the skills and dedication within the Trust with those of SBC's sports professionals. I strongly believe that combining our skills, knowledge and resources will provide improved opportunities for local sport in terms of, increasing participation, improving performance and sustaining future levels of delivery."

One of the BSLT board members is David Ferguson, a sports writer and former Borders sports coach, and he believes that the prospect of looming cuts mean a new direction is crucial for the future of Borders sport. He said: "Council budgets across the country are facing savage cuts over the next few years and, in my personal opinion, if these cuts were to go ahead leisure facilities in the Borders would close. This is an alternative way forward and I believe there is so much more scope to develop sport in the region if we all work positively together."

Mr Ferguson pointed out other councils across Scotland struggling to maintain services through cutbacks had gone down this route and the partnership between council and charity-based Trust had succeeded in creating state-of-the-art new sports facilities. And he argued that had Scottish Borders Council not handed the management of six swimming pools and two leisure complexes to Borders Sports and Leisure Trust five years ago facilities would have closed.

Mr Ferguson added: "The Trust and SBC working together has the potential to create a brighter future amid the gloom of financial cutbacks, and begin to reverse the trend of chronic under-investment in sport in the Borders over the last 20 to 30 years.

"There are people doing fantastic work within SBC, the Trust and with other sporting bodies and the key for me, as someone who is passionate about sport in the Borders and creating a better future for new generations, is how you bring it together in such a small place so everyone can support each other and we get the maximum benefit."

The planned merger is part of the council's on-going efficiency drive and a report is due to be published by the end of October 2010. The local authority has also invited the operators of the swimming pools in Jedburgh and Duns to take part in discussions.

Council leader David Parker said the Trust was able to attract funding from outside agencies that the council was unable to which had kept many of the region's facilities open.

However, Councillor Paterson said: "I feel I should be making decisions and not members of the public as we are proposing and I am opposed to this."

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