'Great sadness' at swimming pool bailout rejection

Ruth Dorward, left, and Carol Henderson said the disappointment felt in Jedburgh at the decision would be great

Councillors have voted against providing a further £80,000 bailout to a struggling swimming pool in the Borders.

A rescue package was approved in August to keep the Jedburgh facility - where Olympian Lucy Hope learned to swim - open.

However, an urgent report to Scottish Borders Council (SBC) said there was no sign of the financial position of the trust which runs it improving.

It means the facility is set to close this week and be maintained on a care and repair basis while an options appraisal on pool provision is carried out.

Ruth Dorward, co-chair of the Jedburgh Leisure Facilities Trust (JLFT), said she felt "great sadness and disappointment" at the decision.

A report to councillors outlined the financial situation of the trust and the request for funding to allow it to continue trading until 31 March.

They were told that without the backing it would immediately cease to trade.

However, they heard that the local authority had no legal obligation to provide the support.

Local Jedburgh councillors - and one representing Hawick - voted in favour of agreeing the £80,000 funding but were outvoted by other councillors.

Ms Dorward said: "We have made an enormous effort to try and turn things around.

"Mostly I am sad because I think it is an irreplaceble loss to the community of Jed - an asset which has been part of the town for decades."

She said she took a "crumb of comfort" from suggestions that the decision was a "reset" for the pool rather than permanent closure.

"The longer Jed remains out of commission, the less likely it is to open again," she added.

Pool user Carol Henderson said it was a big loss to the area.

"It is not just the swimming lessons and the swimming, there are other classes take place at the pool," she said.

"I have been doing aquarobics there for 25 years and the majority of people that come there are just beaming.

"I know fine that when I have to tell them next week there is no aquarobics they are going to be very, very sad."