One of Scotland’s newest MSPs has joined a campaign to save two threatened Aberdeen swimming pools – despite being part of the administration that slashed their budgets.
North-east conservative member Ross Thomson was elected as part of a Tory surge in the area on Thursday.
Mr Thomson had been serving as Aberdeen City Council’s finance vice-convener when Sport Aberdeen’s budget was cut by around £405,000 leading to the planned closures of Kincorth and Hazlehead pools.
He will continue on as a councillor until next year’s elections but will not take any committee roles and donate his salary to charity.
It’s understood that the board of Sport Aberdeen, including Mr Thomson’s conservative colleague in the council Alan Donnelly, voted unanimously for the closures.
The arms length body argue that the pools only average around 33 users a day and it would be cost-prohibitive to continue operating them.
With Torry and Kincorth Academies due to move to the new City South Academy in 2017, the Kincorth pool will be replaced with a new facility at the school.
But the move has resulted in outrage and a public petition to reverse the closures has gained more than 400 signatures.
They are due to shut their doors for good in August.
Mr Thomson has now written to chiefs at the organisation calling for answers but still laying ultimate blame at the door of the Scottish Government.
Mr Thomson wrote: “Naturally I’m very disappointed with the decision, though I respect this is one for Sport Aberdeen and not Aberdeen City Council.
“Give that the SNP slashed council budgets by £500m and in particular Aberdeen received a significant reduction in its revenue grant as well as remaining the lowest funded council in Scotland tough decisions by Council and Arms Length organisations will be required.
“I am more than happy to explore options at both Council and Holyrood to try and identify any possible solution.”
Mr Donnelly said the decision had to be made after the council cutbacks.
He said: “These were the ones that were least used and costing the most money. I’m sad to have had to do it but if we didn’t then we would have had to close down elsewhere.”