To sign the petition click this link.

Background information

Scottish Swimming has been in dialogue with sportscotland, Community Leisure UK, local authorities and Leisure Trust partners who have made them aware of the increased energy costs and issues affecting the public leisure sector, and specifically pools.

Similarly, ukactive, the health and fitness trade organisation of which Edinburgh Leisure is a member, and which supports 4,000 members and partners from across the public, private and third sectors, has been carrying out a similar campaign to lobby the UK Government. You can read their response to the Government’s financial support package for public leisure operators with swimming pools announced in March 2023.  Click here to read.

While Edinburgh Leisure stands in support of this campaign, I would like to reassure you that although we are experiencing challenges, there are currently no plans for any venue closures at Edinburgh Leisure, despite what you might hear/read in the media.

On the back of ukactive’s campaign, in March 2023, the BBC shared a worrying story generated by a new report from ukactive.

'Industry bodies such as these will often use ‘shocking’ headlines to lobby for change and raise awareness of industry issues, which can be worrying and unsettling, especially when one doesn’t know the context. 'Forty per cent of council areas at risk of leisure centre and swimming pool closures and restrictions before April without immediate support.'

Scottish Swimming’s campaign

While Scottish Swimming recognise that not every pool is under threat in Scotland, there are some areas where they are at higher risk of closure, and they have therefore created a generic campaign to flag up some of the challenges facing pools.

Their live petition with the Scottish Parliament is asking for pools to be kept open and for the government to provide financial relief. They need to get 10,000 signatures to get a response from the government.

They are asking as many people as possible, including their members and partners to follow the petition link and to show their support by signing. The petition link is here - Recognise the value of swimming pools and provide financial relief to help keep pools open - Petitions (parliament.scot)  

If you would like to find out more information on Scottish Swimming’s #SaveOurPools campaign, click here to watch their powerful YouTube film which focuses on water safety. It was produced for their Parliamentary reception on 29 March to highlight the importance of swimming pools across Scotland in the hope of securing government funding.

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