Campaigners reacted angrily last night after it emerged that some of Highland Council’s 13 swimming pools may be closed in a drive to slash its budget.
They claimed the move would be “crazy” and would fly in the face of Scottish Government policy on promoting healthy lifestyles.
The council dismissed suggestions that rural schools may also be axed as it tries to balance its books.
But the authority said all its services had been asked to assess what impact a 5% spending reduction would have on them.
The education, culture and sport department – which is responsible for half the local authority’s current £569million budget – has the heftiest target saving of £10.5million, having already made £17.5million of cutbacks over the last three years.
The council has swimming pools at Alness, Culloden, Dingwall, Fort William, Golspie, Grantown, Invergordon, Nairn, Portree, Tain, Thurso, Ullapool and Wick, but it was unclear which venues might be considered for disposal.
The prospect of any pool closures horrified swimmers, including 69-year-old international medallist Sandra Lea from Inverness, who with fellow club member Nancy Scott has dominated competitive racing at masters events around the world.
She said: “We’re already short of swimming pools now. We have made representation at the university campus meeting to try and make sure it was a 50-metre pool at the new campus. To axe what we’ve already got would be crazy.”
Stuart Edmond, who led a campaign to secure council support for building a pool on the Black Isle, said: “In some areas there is perhaps over-provision, with pools for example at Tain, Alness, Invergordon and Dingwall.
“I would have thought the government’s aim was to make us healthier and fitter, and that should be an overriding consideration rather than cutting back on these facilities.”
Black Isle councillor Billy Barclay said: “I wouldn’t like to see swimming pools being cut because we can’t cope with demand for them as it is.”
The council’s budget leader, David Alston, dismissed leaked reports that up to 10 pools could close and some schools could shut or merge.
He said: “We’re treating all services the same and we’re asking all directors and chairmen to look at what a 5% saving would mean. We hope there will be some flexibility in that figure, but we will still have some difficult decisions to make.”
It emerged in September that the council was facing an estimated £19.6million budget gap next year – largely due to a soaring electricity bill – and a £15.1million shortfall the following year.
Mr Alston warned at the time of service cuts and possible job losses.
The power bill is expected to double after a three-year contract with a supplier expires in March.
Education committee vice-chairman Drew Millar, a Skye and Raasay councillor and budget group member, suggested Inverness and the surrounding areas took the brunt of any service cuts.
“If we’re looking at a reduction in facilities then, in my opinion, it would make sense to look at the Inner Moray Firth area where facilities are in abundance and within a reasonable travelling distance,” he said.
“I would be looking at swimming pools and libraries, and there may be an opportunity for amalgamating urban schools.”
The crisis has fuelled job fears. But while union officials would not pre-empt the budget, resources committee chairwoman Carolyn Wilson was confident there would be no impact on frontline services in housing, property and finance.
She said: “Highland Council in the past has been very good about managing jobs and we are aware that we are looking at a tough budget. I think it’s all about working smarter and doing the job more efficiently.”
Housing and social work chairwoman Margaret Davidson was upbeat, pointing to an additional £1million for home-care services and a £400,000 two-year investment in foster care.
John Finnie, leader of the opposition SNP group, warned against “spreading fear and alarm”.
The budget business group will continue its deliberations this week.
The group’s proposals will be debated by an all-party budget working group on December 4, prior to a public airing at the next full council meeting on December 18.