CRITICS have slammed ­Glasgow Life chairman David McDonald for choosing a ‘civic jolly’ over a public meeting to save a vital community resource.

Elected officials criticised the sport and culture boss for missing a meeting by campaigners bidding to rescue Whitehill Pool.

David McDonald was criticised by some for choosing to miss the meeting, instead attending the opening night of Celtic Connections festival.

The public meeting, on Thursday night, saw more than 300 concerned parents, residents, campaigners and politicians come together to rally against the proposed cuts.

Labour MP for Glasgow North East, Paul Sweeney, said: “It’s very obvious that the chairman of Glasgow Life would have been aware of the issues surrounding Whitehill Pool, it strikes me as a bit blasé not to come along.

“I’d bought tickets to go to the same concert and I chose not to go.

“Rather turn up and show leadership as Glasgow Life chairman, he decided to go on a civic jolly.

“It shows a distinct lack of judgement.

“Leadership can be judged by actions.

“If he doesn’t turn up I think he’ll run the risk of increasing calls to be made on his position if he doesn’t respond to the urgent crisis facing public services in Glasgow.

“That would be increasingly inevitable if he’s seen to be lacking in leadership.”

The Dennistoun swimming pool faces closure after ­Glasgow Life, which runs the facility, said it would cost £5million to bring up to standard.

Residents have expressed frustration over the lack

of investment in the facility.

Councillor Elaine McDougall said she will invite Mr McDonald to the next meeting to answer some tough questions.

She said: “I think it’s disgraceful what’s happening to our local facilities, despite the health problems in the East End of Glasgow.

“As the chairman of Glasgow Life, he has to come and explain why these options have been considered.

“He has to answerable to the people there on the night, my constituents.

“I can only invite him, whether he turns up is another story.”

The Evening Times asked Glasgow Life and Glasgow City Council why David McDonald did not attend, and if he would be attending the next meeting.

They refused to comment, or commit to his attendance at a future meeting. A spokesman for Glasgow City Council, said: “As previously stated, officers from across the council family are working up a wide range of options and costings

for members of all political groups.

“This is a technical exercise designed to help members consider the value and also the impact of potential investments or savings.

“The options do not constitute any group’s proposed budget – and it is normal for options to be reviewed and refined over a number of weeks and months, prior to members deciding if they wish to include any of them in their proposals.”

A spokesman for Glasgow Life added: “We continue to work with Glasgow City Council with regard to future funding decisions and service provision.”

Meanwhile, Ms McDougall pledged to join forces with fellow Labour politician councillor Paul Carey in a bid to fight against the closure of both Whitehill and Drumchapel Pool.

She said: “In my opinion elected members were voted in to stand up for the people within our ward and the message was quite clear from the people that they want the swimming pool to remain open.”

Mr Carey, who is backing a 3000-strong petition to keep the Drumry Road East facility open, added: “I was absolutely shocked to learn that Drumchapel Pool was among the options for closure, I was even further shocked to see that Whitehill Pool in Ms McDougall’s ward was another.

“Obviously these areas are similar and I am very keen to see both of these pools saved from closure.”

Both councillors said they would not vote for either pool to be closed.