Lawyers to appeal isles Sunday swim decision

Solicitors for the 10-year-old girl from Stornoway who plans court action so she can swim in her local pool on Sundays are to appeal the decision not to grant her legal aid.

The planned court action by Ellen Macleod was to force Western Isles Council to lift their ban on council sports facilities on Lewis and Harris opening on the Sabbath.

The solicitors say the council's stance lacks commonsense and point out that the launch of a regular busy Sunday ferry between Ullapool and Lewis is proof that Sunday observance is not as strong as it was.

The equality discrimination action is spearheaded by Ellen's mother, Elma, a leading Sunday opening campaigner and critic against Western Isles Council's policy of six-day working.

The council's policy means that the modern £7million Stornoway Sports Centre and swimming pool remains closed on Sundays.

Council-owned community facilities in other parts of the islands which are traditionally Presbyterian obey the policy.

These include rural school pools at Ness and Shawbost and the Harris Sports Centre in Tarbert.

But there is a north-south divide to the policy which allows an arrangement for facilities in the mainly Catholic Benbecula and Barra to open seven days.