Fears leisure centre closure plan pits 'town against town'

A council has been accused of "setting town against town" as a consultation begins on the future of sport, leisure and cultural facilities in the Scottish Borders.

Dozens of sites run by charitable trust Live Borders on the local authority's behalf have been recommended for closure in a report by consultants.

Scottish Borders Council leader Euan Jardine stressed that no decisions had been made and they were seeking "constructive input".

However, Gill Cooper of Abbey Quilters - a community groups which use the Abbey Row centre in Kelso - said it felt like they were pitting towns and villages against one another in order to see which facilities were retained.

Speaking after a meeting with other concerned groups at the site which consultants recommended for closure, she said: "We're absolutely disgusted at the questions they're asking on the consultation to be honest.

"All they're asking about is individual spaces and numbers - all they're trying to do is set the hall in Earlston against the hall in Kelso, against the hall in Jedburgh."

She said the council should be looking to invest in the cultural life of the region and places like Abbey Row were the "bedrock of that Borders life".

"Don't be setting town against town, village against village," she added.

"Instead, ask what we need in the Borders - what are we trying to achieve in our communities?

"Abbey Row has lots of activity every day, which support disability, mental health, dexterity, the loneliness index – I could go on and on. But they're not interested in that."

She said that the council had its priorities wrong if it was not prepared to invest in community life and suggested it could use the money from a 10% increase in council tax.

However, Mr Jardine said they wanted to give everyone a chance to have their say on the way forward.

"No decisions have been made, and our conversations with communities, stakeholders and colleagues over the coming months will be vital in building a full picture of priorities, how services and facilities are used, where alternatives exist, and what the impacts of different options might be," he said.

"Change is essential to bring Live Borders into a sustainable financial position, but the specific details around services and properties are still up for discussion.

"Live Borders is already progressing other actions that could deliver significant savings and when combined with some service and property changes, these will help safeguard the future of sport, leisure, and cultural provision across the region."

He said it was important to emphasise any changes would not save the council money but would help Live Borders operate within its budget and make that budget go further.