Latest news with #LiveBorders
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
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. More stories from South Scotland Listen to news for the Scottish Borders on BBC Sounds 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. Council to consult on closing libraries and pools


BBC News
5 days ago
- Lifestyle
- BBC News
Borders leisure site consultation sets '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 of sites run by charitable trust Live Borders on the local authority's behalf have been recommended for closure in a report by 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.


BBC News
07-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
New head takes over Live Borders at 'pivotal time'
New boss for cash-strapped leisure trust at 'pivotal time' 7 minutes ago Share Save Share Save Live Borders Catriona McAllister will take over at Live Borders in the summer A new chief executive has been announced at a leisure and sport trust in the Borders where consultants have recommended a string of site closures and job cuts. Catriona McAllister will take over the post at Live Borders - which was advertised with an annual salary of up to £99,000 - in the summer. Bill Douglas, who chairs the organisation, said she was joining them at a time of "change, renewal and growth". Ms McAllister said she was excited to take on the role at such a "pivotal time". Live Borders runs a range of leisure, sport and cultural facilities on behalf of Scottish Borders Council (SBC). However, last year it needed £2.5m of additional local authority funding - on top of a £4.8m management fee - to keep services operating. A report by consultants has recommended shutting a number of facilities - including swimming pools and libraries - and cutting more than 50 full-time posts. SBC has promised "robust" consultation over the proposals. 'Challenges and opportunities'


STV News
25-04-2025
- Business
- STV News
Council to consider closing list of pools and libraries
Borders Council is considering closing several pools and libraries throughout the county to address 'significant financial and operational challenges.' At least five libraries throughout the Borders are slated for closure, along with four swimming pools, six community centres, multiple museums, and town and public halls. It's all part of a Borders Sporting and Cultural Estate Review, which is looking at the future of Live Borders, the charitable trust that runs facilities on the local authority's behalf. Councillors were presented with a range of proposals – including closures and selloffs – to consider during a full Scottish Borders council on Thursday. They were told that both the council and Live Borders are facing 'significant financial and operational challenges in maintaining their extensive sporting, leisure, and cultural estate'. 'Rising energy costs, ageing infrastructure, and declining participation levels necessitate a strategic transformation of leisure, cultural, and community assets,' the report said. 'This review sets out a long-term vision for a high-quality, modernised estate. The ambition is to create the right suite of facilities that are fit for the 21st century and beyond.' The independent report from Integratis Consulting was adamant that the current situation is 'financially unsustainable'. Live Borders required £2.5m of additional council funding in the last financial year – over and above the annual £4.8m management fee – to keep services and facilities operating. 'There is therefore a shared understanding, reflected in the independent consultant's report, that the status quo in terms of services, facilities and funding is not viable,' the council report said. That's why the council has been asked to consider a range of 'significant' proposals – including closures, selloffs, and consolidations. Among the facilities recommended for closure are Selkirk Swimming Pool, the Wilton Primary School swimming pool, the Queen's Leisure Centre and the Tri Fitness gym in Galashiels. The report also advised that Jedburgh's Laidlaw Pool should remain closed. Libraries in Earlston, Eyemouth, Coldstream, and Hawick are recommended to be shut down or consolidated with other services. Old Gala House, Abbey Row Centre in Kelso and Sir Walter Scott's Courtroom in Selkirk are also on the closure list while the bowling hall at Tweedbank and sports hall at the Gytes in Peebles are proposed to be turned into fitness gyms. If the proposals are accepted wholesale, the Mary Queen of Scots' Visitor Centre and Jedburgh Castle Jail and Museum could also introduce new visitor charges. The council acknowledged in the report that the proposals are 'significant', and that it will be 'critically important' to fully understand the impacts before decisions are taken. 'It is important to note that no decisions on the future provision of services or associated buildings are being made at this stage, with significant further work required from communities to consider all options available,' the report added. The council said it would take a 'staged approach' to considering any changes that are proposed. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Consultants advise closing leisure sites in Borders
Consultants have recommended closing a string of leisure, cultural and community sites across the Scottish Borders, including libraries and swimming pools. Integratis Consulting were brought in by the council to examine the future of the charity Live Borders, which runs certain facilities on the council's behalf. The proposals, intended to map out a sustainable future for the charity, would also see more than 50 full-time jobs lost. Scottish Borders Council (SBC) leader Euan Jardine said no final decisions had been made and stressed that they were recommendations by consultants. The local authority will meet to discuss the findings on Thursday. More stories from South Scotland Listen to news for the Scottish Borders on BBC Sounds A trust was established in 2003 to run sports and leisure facilities on behalf of the council and has expanded since then. However, it has experienced significant financial issues since the Covid pandemic. Last year, SBC took back control of some services Live Borders ran on its behalf. Now a report into the sustainability of its operations has suggested dozens of different sites it operates should close. Among the facilities recommended for closure are Selkirk Swimming Pool and the Queen's Leisure Centre and Tri Fitness gym in Galashiels. The report also advises that Jedburgh's Laidlaw Pool should remain closed. Libraries in Earlston, Eyemouth, Coldstream and Hawick are also recommended to be shut or consolidated with other services. Old Gala House, Abbey Row Centre in Kelso and Sir Walter Scott's Courtroom in Selkirk are also on the closure list while the bowling hall at Tweedbank and sports hall at the Gytes in Peebles are proposed to be turned into fitness gyms. SBC leader Euan Jardine stressed that no decision had been made by the local authority. "This is not a council report this is a consultant's report and I think we need to get that fact very clear," he said. "This is not that the council has decided to do any of this - this is a consultant's recommendations. "We will be going out for consultation before we make any decisions." Council agrees way forward for struggling sports trust One in three leisure sites spark condition concerns