THE Whitehill pool and Drumchapel pool will not be closing to meet looming budget cuts, it has been confirmed.

After a Budget Options document, seen by the Evening Times, mentioned closure, local people were concerned they would lose their swimming pool.

But the deputy leader of Glasgow City Council has said closing the two pools will not be included in this year’s budget plan.

With just two weeks until the budget is presented, David McDonald, said the council doesn’t intent shutting facilities without a plan to replace them.

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The news will come as relief to those who organised in Dennistoun and Drumchapel to ensure they kept the swimming polls open.

Mr McDonald said it was unfortunate the options paper was “leaked and misrepresented”.

However, he said: “Now that the City Government has begun the process of considering these officer proposals as part of our own budget preparations it is clear that a number do not accord with our priorities and approach nor with the commitments were elected upon in 2017.

“As a result, I can confirm that amongst those recommendations we will not take forward into our budget are the closure of council-owned facilities, including the Whitehill and Drumchapel Pools.”

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He said the pools and community facilities were included in an exercise by council officials to draw up a “wide range of options and costings” to be considered by all political parties in the council.

Closing 12 facilities including the pools would have saved more than £1m

He added: “That exercise is designed to help members consider the value and also the impact of potential investments or savings.

“It is routine for officer options to be reviewed and refined or, where appropriate, rejected, before the budget.”

While criticising political opponents claiming some caused “unnecessary concern” the Deputy Leader said it was “greatly encouraging to see the sense of community which rallied round these cherished facilities”.

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The City Treasurer, Allan Gow is drawing up his third budget since the SNP took over the council and is facing a spending gap of around £41m in the next financial year.

Mr McDonald said this year there is the additional challenge of equal pay settlement.

However, he said: “But we also have political priorities and ambitions for investment in our communities.

Glaswegians should have access to local services and to high quality leisure and cultural facilities in buildings fit for their intended purpose, which is not always the case as it currently stands.

Too many are in a state of dilapidation, have had little more than sticking plaster maintenance for years, are reaching the end of their lives or are simply no longer suitable for their current use.”

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