Community / Pool closure decision ‘required to taken in this financial year’
Meanwhile more than 2,000 signatures have now been collected for a petition in support of the Scalloway swimming pool
THE DECISION by Shetland Recreational Trust (SRT) to close one of its facilities – which ended up being the Scalloway swimming pool – had to be taken within this financial year to “limit further impact” on other leisure centres.
That is according to SRT chief executive Robert Geddes, writing in a memo to all of the trust’s staff earlier this month when the decision to close the pool was announced.
He also said it was agreed that the trust had to “reduce its operations by one facility” – with geographical location, travel distances and public transport availability all considered in the decision-making process.
Meanwhile more than 2,000 signatures have now been collected for the “save Scalloway pool” petition.
The petition initially began in paper form only but an online version is now available.
The SRT, a charity which is core funded by the Shetland Charitable Trust, announced earlier this month that it would be closing the Scalloway pool at the end of March.
It said it was attempting to secure its wider long-term sustainability by consolidating leisure provision in Shetland – and pointed to Scalloway’s distance from other pools, such as the Clickimin in Lerwick.
Services will move to other pools, and all stuff currently employed in Scalloway will be supported and given the opportunity to relocate to other SRT sites.
The trust also said it would look to speak to any interested parties in terms of retaining or re-using the building.
But the decision has provoked concern in the community, with the village’s community council as well as the school parent council both speaking out and calling for the closure to at least be delayed to allow time for more consultation.
They also remarked how the pool continues to be busy, with the facility well used for swimming lessons and by people with additional support needs.
A memo from Geddes seen by Shetland News which was sent to all SRT staff on the day of the announcement (16 January) said the decision – made by SRT trustees – “isn’t something I ever wanted to deliver, but it is necessary to safeguard the future of the trust”.
He said after various sets of data were provided to trustees, the conclusion was that the trust was “required to reduce its operations by one facility to provide stability and achieve financial sustainability”.
“To limit further impact on facilities in future years it was also highlighted that the decision would be required to taken in this financial year, 2025/26,” Geddes wrote.
He highlighted the actions already taken by the trust in attempt to get on a more stable financial footing, particularly amid rising energy costs.
These include a “reduction in staffing through natural wastage, voluntary and compulsory redundancy” as well as reduced operating days and hours across most sites.
Geddes wrote that these actions provided “some stability” while he worked with trustees on a future operating model, adding that he was “very proud” of the efforts made by all staff.
But he said this operating model in place over the last 18 months is not viable for the long-term due to the pressures on a reduced staffing level; “the staff are the most important consideration for me moving forward”, he wrote.
Geddes went on to say that the multi-year funding package from Shetland Charitable Trust confirmed last year which runs to 2030 is “very welcome”.
But he said that “without change, we are still not able to sustain the current operating model of eight leisure facilities and a maintenance department”.
Geddes explained in the memo that with confirmation of multi-year funding, he was tasked by trustees to identify what a “viable model” would look like for the SRT based on the funding received.
He also said that under charity law, trustees are legally required to act in their charity’s best interests and to “ensure financial sustainability”.
Geddes’ memo further said that when making assessments of the future, his main focus was on the “social impact of our facilities on communities and not necessarily just based on financial impact”.
He added that he appreciated the decision to close Scalloway “will come as a shock to many, it’s regrettable and the decision hasn’t been taken lightly”.
Meanwhile one of the candidates for May’s Scottish Parliament elections has called for the closure to be paused.
Hannah Mary Goodlad, of the SNP, has raised concerns about how the decision has been handled, saying it has been lacking meaningful engagement with the local community.
“The decision appears incredibly rushed, with no real conversation with those who rely on the pool,” she said.
“I support calls for a pause on the immediate closure. This would allow time for a deeper and more robust assessment of demand, educational use, and the wider social value the pool brings to our community.”
Goodlad, who lives nearby in East Voe, also raised concern about the cumulative impact of the pool closing after the village’s school lost its secondary department in 2011.
“We must do everything we can to safeguard Scalloway from becoming a ‘commuter town’ to Lerwick,” she said.
“These decisions cannot be looked at in isolation, together they have a profound impact on our village.”
The SRT previously said closing Scalloway “will have the least community impact due to the proximity to the nearby available sites, which have capacity to absorb the customer numbers”.
Trust chairman David Thomson said “trustees would rather not to have had to take this decision, but it is a key part of developing a sustainable future and for the SRT to avoid significant negative consequences for the trust and Shetland”.
Shetland Charitable Trust (SCT) is set to provide the SRT with £3.8 million in core funding for 2026/27.
Regarding the challenges at the recreational trust, the SCT said “has to balance its responsibilities to SRT with those to other organisations that it funds”.
The SRT’s 2024/25 annual report did say that finalising a “facility model” was an aim for the 2025/26 financial year.
The report said the net movement in funds for 2024/25 was a net expenditure of just under £223,000.
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