Community / Ribbons add colour to pool fencing as campaigners continue efforts
THE SCALLOWAY swimming pool may have shut a fortnight ago, but the campaign opposing its closure is continuing – with the latest efforts including yellow ribbons tied onto the fencing which surrounds the building.
A ‘Save Scalloway Pool’ sign has also been put up on a wooden fence next to the vacant building.
Some local schoolchildren helped put ribbons on the metal fencing – which operator Shetland Recreational Trust (SRT) said was put up to maintain the security of the building – after they were coming out of school earlier today (Thursday).
They were joined by members of the community including three Shetland Central councillors, Davie Sandison, Ian Scott and Moraig Lyall.
Campaigner Yvonne Clark said it was a “peaceful protest”.
“People were saying ‘what next, what can we do’,” she said.
“We thought this was a visual thing we could do, and it involves so many people in the community.
“We really wanted the bairns to be involved in it because a lot of them have gone back to school and have been quite upset to see their beloved pool with this horrible fence around it.”
The campaigners have also met recently with Shetland Charitable Trust.
Meanwhile the Scalloway Community Development Company said it is still corresponding with the SRT.
Chairman Davie Sandison said this was “both to seek answers still not given directly to our questions and also to follow up with further queries arising from the blanket response” sent to the Scalloway Community Council.
He added: “We have not had any specific discussion with regard to future ideas about the pool so far.”
In mid-January the SRT announced it had decided to close one of its facilities to create a more sustainable operating model, and Scalloway was selected – partly due to its proximity to Lerwick and the Clickimin Leisure Complex.
A ‘Save Scalloway Pool’ petition was created soon after, which amassed nearly 5,000 signatures.
However the pool ultimately closed after a final session on 31 March, with services moving to the Clickimin.
The SRT has said it will retain ownership of the building for a longer period of time to “give the community further opportunity to suggest alternatives and allow the possibility of reopening should a sustainable long-term solution be identified”.
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