Calls for increased public access to Johnstone Swimming Pool sparked a lengthy debate at Renfrewshire Council on Thursday, with councillors split over whether action should be taken immediately or considered as part of future plans for Johnstone High School.
The debate ended with no immediate change to the pool’s opening hours, meaning the venue is expected to remain closed to the public during parts of the day despite staff being on site.
The motion, brought forward by Councillor Iain McMillan and seconded by Councillor Gillian Graham, called for discussions with OneRen over the facility’s restricted daytime opening hours.
Councillor McMillan told the meeting local residents had become increasingly frustrated at the pool being closed to the public for large parts of the day.
He said: “The public at the moment are kind of squeezed into a seven o’clock to 11 o’clock swimming session in the morning.
“I know it’s open later on, but in the morning it’s particularly busy.
“What spurred me on to eventually get this to the full council was the fact that there was children’s swimming lessons between seven and 11.
“I don’t think anyone would be opposed to swimming lessons for local primary schools. Not at all. But to have them in that small window that the public have got in the morning to use a swim caused a bit of concern amongst the regular swimmers who were eventually squeezed into a small part of the pool.”
The Labour councillor said residents had repeatedly raised concerns about the lack of daytime access, particularly for people working from home, parents and older residents.
He added: “We are approaching the summer holidays and we know that can be a really, really tough time for parents in terms of keeping their kids amused.
“I’m sure that OneRen will be putting on a couple of splash sessions in Johnstone Pool, which, again, I welcome, but still, the pool will be closed essentially between 11 o’clock and 3 o’clock.
“What local people can’t understand is that the staff are in there anyway. The staff don’t clock out and then go home and come back at three o’clock. They are in there.”
Councillor Graham backed the motion and questioned why the pool remained shut during parts of the day despite staff already being on site.
She said: “It does seem to not make sense to me that the staff are in the pool and yet the pool’s not open.
“I think there’s a balance between business use and public service.
“OneRen receives a substantial amount of money from the council to provide leisure services and, in many ways, they do it very well, but when you’ve got a pool languishing shut, I’d have to say, why is it shut?”
However, an amendment brought forward by Councillor Jacqueline Cameron and seconded by Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes argued the issue should instead be considered alongside wider discussions around the future redevelopment of Johnstone High School and the Johnstone Community Sports Hub.
Councillor Cameron said the pool was unique because it operated within the school estate.
She told the meeting: “Johnstone Swimming Pool is unique in that it is the only swimming pool in Renfrewshire that is attached to the educational estate and is given priority to curriculum delivery.
“This is a good opportunity to have a look at it all in the round.
“The learning estate engagement programme has already kicked off with staff. Next week it will go out to the public and residents, and they will have a chance to have a say on everything about the school, the new build and where it will be and how it will look.
“That includes the sports hub and facilities and the swimming pool.”
Councillor Hughes said she was open to discussions about the pool’s operation but disputed claims that Johnstone had less access than comparable facilities elsewhere in Renfrewshire.
She said: “Comparably, Johnstone Swimming Pool has slightly more hours than both Renfrew and Erskine Baths.
“Our hours are more varied. There is more afternoon and there are some evenings and some mornings when there is less opening.
“I am happy to have the discussion, but I cannot accept a motion that is factually inaccurate.”
She also revealed usage figures presented to councillors suggested low daytime demand.
Councillor Hughes said: “Certainly, the data that I know has been provided to you suggests that there is not an enormous volume — some 1.5 people an hour come in to swim.”
Council leader Iain Nicholson said the debate highlighted wider questions around how school-based sports hubs operate across Renfrewshire.
He said: “We are at a place now where we have to have a good look at the sports hub model and how it will operate.
“Maybe the relationship between school and leisure facility — public use — is not quite working the way that we thought it would always work.”
Councillor McMillan said many residents still felt strongly about access to the pool years after the closure of the old Johnstone Swimming Pool.
He added: “People understand that the school will be in for a certain time.
“However, we have had the pool closed during the day for six years.
“If it’s not open, how do you know whether people are going to come? If it’s not open, you don’t know.”
Following a tied 20-20 vote, Provost Lorraine Cameron used her casting vote to back the SNP amendment, meaning discussions on the future of the pool will now form part of the wider consultation process linked to the proposed redevelopment of Johnstone High School.
Speaking to Renfrewshire News following the meeting, Councillor Graham said: “I’m disappointed that the SNP administration, some of whom are councillors for Johnstone, would not support our motion. Instead, they have kicked increased opening hours into the long grass.
“Residents and pool users want action now and do not want to wait several years for improvements.”
Councillor McMillan added: “The people of Johnstone will be dismayed that their voices have not been heard on this issue.
“I would also refute claims that our motion is inaccurate, as compared with Paisley and Linwood pools, the pool in Johnstone is not open nearly as much as those facilities.
“I certainly recognise the difference in that Johnstone Pool works in tandem with Johnstone High School and that makes it different, but to have the pool closed for 20 hours a week is not acceptable.
“The people of Johnstone and Elderslie will well remember promises made to them when the SNP/Liberal Democrats closed their popular pools a number of years ago and they will feel particularly let down following yesterday’s vote.”