Give us the pool

Jan 22 2010 by Edwin Lawrence, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

COUNCILLORS this week finally get the lowdown on a bid to re-open Girvan Swimming Pool.

Girvan people gave the plan a massive thumbs-up at a public meeting back on December 17.

But incredibly, South Ayrshire Council had no-one present at a meeting attended by 500.

The directors of Girvan Community Swimming Pool Ltd later wrote to Provost Winnie Sloan.

And councillors will now see the rescue proposals made at the public meeting.

This comes in advance of a meeting next week when councillors will decide on the pool’s future.

It was of course the council who closed the pool a year ago, for health and safety reasons.

And the council later failed in a bid to attract Scottish Government funding to revamp it.

Girvan Community Swimming Pool Ltd is a group of respected residents seeking a partnership solution.

And they want the council to hand over the boarded-up pool.

GCSP chairman Iain Brown said this week: “I believe we have been totally transparent and open about how we have put together our business plan to re-open the pool with new facilities.

“We have hidden nothing, and as businessmen we are confident we can run the pool on a not-for-profit basis.

“We hope to convince the council that the best way forward for them is to engage in a partnership with us, for the benefit of the whole community.”

The GCSP proposals were first lodged with the council more than three months ago – even before the knock-back from the Scottish Government.

But the council position last month was that ‘significant clarification’ was needed, as well as time to compile a report.

And this will be in front of councillors on Tuesday, January 26.

But councillors will now at least have the benefit of first seeing the GCSP proposals.

Mr Brown pointed out: “To say we are the only show in town is very close to the reality of the situation. But some council officials seem unwilling to believe our figures.

“However, Provost Sloan has set up this meeting, and councillors will now hear the presentation that was made in Girvan.

”I honestly don’t know what more we can do to convince the council to give the pool back to the community.

“The people of Girvan deserve nothing less than an honest answer.”