Two closure-threatened swimming pools in Aberdeen could still be saved after a decision on their future was deferred for three weeks.
The fates of Hazlehead and Kincorth pools will now be decided by a meeting of the full council, following motions by the opposition SNP and Liberal Democrat groups at yesterday’s finance committee meeting.
Sport Aberdeen is faced with a funding gap after Aberdeen City Council slashed its budget by £405,000 earlier this year, and argued that the two pools were not used enough to justify keeping them open.
However the sporting body was criticised for announcing a £5million investment in other parts of its estate in the city.
Prior to the meeting, SNP group leader, Stephen Flynn, met with a group of campaigners, who started a petition against the closures which has gained more than 1000 signatures.
Pam Taylor, 35, from Kincorth, launched the petition on May 7 over concerns for her swimming-loving children losing out on the facility.
She said: “I’m honestly not surprised it has got so many signatures because people in the area feel so strongly about the pool. ”
However, a row broke out at the meeting with administration members claiming their hands were effectively tied after the last Liberal/SNP alliance in power decided to put the pools out of direct council control by giving Sport Aberdeen the reins in 2010.
Council finance convener Willie Young said they had “no credibility”.
He added: “Sport Aberdeen have assets of £2million and if they decide to keep the pools open, then of course we will support it.
“But we must leave Sport Aberdeen to determine their position by themselves – it was the Liberals and SNP who gave them that freedom in the first place.”
That stance was rebutted by SNP member John Corall, who responded: “The pools are being widely used by the public and I think there are a number of questions that need to be answered before a decision is made.
“How could we consider this when it would disadvantage so many?”
Liberal leader Ian Yuill added: “This shouldn’t be about politics, this is about two community facilities.”