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Consultants advise closing leisure sites in Borders

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Libraries, swimming pools and other facilities are recommended to close by consultants

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.

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.

No decisions made

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."