Shetland pool closes after 33 years due to lack of funds

6 hours ago

Iona Nicoland

Cameron Angus-Mackay,BBC Scotland News

Efforts to secure emergency funding for Scalloway pool were rejected

BBC A long white building with a red curved roof. There are cars parked outside the building, near grass and a concrete area. — Efforts to secure emergency funding for Scalloway pool were rejected

A popular swimming pool in Shetland has closed its doors despite a campaign to keep it open using emergency funds.

Scalloway pool opened in April 1993 and has been used by groups including canoeists, and by primary school pupils and adults learning to swim.

Operator Shetland Recreational Trust (SRT) said it had considered the campaigners' request, but concluded a "short-term arrangement" would not resolve its financial challenges.

Trustees previously said the building needed a £1.2m refurbishment, and that shutting the pool would prevent further site closures.

SRT runs seven other leisure centres - Clickimin, Unst, Yell, Whalsay, North Mainland, West Mainland and South Mainland.

Campaigners said the pool had brought many health benefits

Three women outside a grey building, holding a campaign banner. Their sign says 'Reopen Scalloway pool'. — Campaigners said the pool had brought many health benefits

Shetland Charitable Trust (SCT), which funds SRT, said providing additional funding would put its support for other organisations "at risk".

Both trusts have faced a range of pressures on their finances in recent years, including the Covid pandemic, rising energy costs and inflation.

'Wellbeing benefits'

Yvonne Clark, who has been leading the campaign to save the leisure facility, said it was a "sad day" for Scalloway and surrounding communities.

She said: "It's played an important role in thousands of lives. The health and wellbeing benefits have been immense."

Scalloway is a village on the West Mainland, about six miles (10km) from Lerwick.

SRT said it had "carefully considered" campaigners' requests for a single-year extension of the pool, but concluded this would risk "more instability" for other facilities.

Chairman David Thomson said: "The trust and our facilities cannot realistically be operated on a year-to-year basis with no certainty beyond that."

SRT instead asked for increased "multi-year funding" so it could maintain all of its operations, including the Scalloway pool.

However, SCT, which funds a number of other charities and organisations, said more money would be unfair. Chairman Robert Leask said: "It could damage SCT and put at risk our guaranteed funding to other community organisations."

Leask added: "A five-year financial strategy is in place which provides certainty and security."

SRT is set to receive a core grant of £3.8m in 2026-27.

The trust thanked staff at Scalloway pool for their professionalism and commitment.