I tell you what, sometimes I just scratch my head at the decisions our councils make. The story of Whitehill Pool in Glasgow, closed since 2019, is a prime example of a community being strung along, promised the earth, and then left with nothing but a closed gate and a rising council tax bill. It’s a right mess, if you ask me.
You’d think after five years, with folk protesting outside the City Chambers, something concrete would come out of the budget meeting. But no, the latest news is just another slap in the face for the people of Dennistoun. The council budget for 2026/27 didn’t include direct funding for the pool’s reopening. Instead, the revenue budget for Whitehill Pool has been reallocated to other services. Reallocated. That’s a fancy word for saying, ‘we’ve taken the money and given it to someone else’.
Bill Stark, from the Save Whitehill Pool Campaign Group, sounds like a man at the end of his tether. He said: “Glasgow Life and Glasgow City Council remain fully committed to supporting our cause.” But then he adds: “But we are now looking at a cost of around £35m.” Thirty-five million quid. And the capital funding for that won’t even be available until 2028/29. That’s another three years, minimum, just for the funding cycle to begin. It beggars belief, honestly.
He also pointed out: “However, we need a small amount of investment now to secure the site.” A small amount. To stop it falling into further disrepair, I imagine. But even that seems to be too much to ask. It makes you wonder about the sincerity of this ‘commitment’ when basic preservation can’t be found.
Susan Carden, a member of Living Rent Dennistoun, put it plainly. She said: “The council’s failure to include Whitehill Pool in their budget is an insult to Dennistoun residents, as our beloved community sports facility remains closed with no signs of reopening.” An insult. Aye, I can see why she feels that way. It’s not just about a swimming pool, is it? It’s about a vital community hub.
She highlighted the real impact this has on everyday lives. She said: “Kids can’t learn to swim, people are being hit harder by loneliness and our health is getting worse.” And she’s absolutely spot on. In a country like ours, where the weather’s often more suited to ducks than sunbathing, indoor leisure facilities are a lifeline. They’re not a luxury, they’re a necessity for public health and community spirit. Kids need to learn to swim, for safety and for sport. Adults need places to exercise, to socialise, to escape the four walls of their home.
This whole situation highlights a bigger problem that I’ve been banging on about for a while. It’s no secret that local councils are running out of money, and fast. We see it everywhere, from potholes to bin collections, and now, tragically, to essential community assets like swimming pools. The budget statement claimed this wasn’t a “permanent withdrawal of support”, but when you’re talking about potentially a decade of closure, what exactly does ‘temporary’ even mean?
The council says officers are working on a viable plan. But how many viable plans have come and gone since 2019? Bill Stark said: “We are much further away from achieving our original goal, 7 years on.” That’s the crux of it, isn’t it? Time ticks on, costs escalate, and the community’s patience wears thin. It’s a sad reflection on how local services, once taken for granted, are now crumbling under financial pressure and, dare I say it, a lack of immediate, decisive action.
It makes you wonder about the priorities, doesn’t it? If a council is truly committed to a facility, surely a ‘small amount’ to secure the site wouldn’t be an issue. Instead, we have this perpetual cycle of promises, delays, and reallocations. It’s the kind of thing that erodes trust in Scottish politics and local governance. People want to see their council tax actually delivering for their communities, not just disappearing into a bureaucratic black hole.
The impact on public health, as Susan Carden noted, is particularly worrying. Swimming is a fantastic, low-impact exercise for all ages. Denying access to it, especially in areas that might already face health inequalities, is a backward step. The Scottish Government, through bodies like sportscotland, champions physical activity and wellbeing. Yet, local facilities are closing their doors, often for good. It’s a contradiction that needs addressing.
I just hope the campaigners don’t give up the ghost. They’re fighting for something truly important, something that benefits everyone, from wee bairns to pensioners. The council needs to find a way, and quickly, to put its money where its mouth is. Otherwise, ‘commitment’ just sounds like another empty promise echoing in a closed, empty pool.
Source: Glasgow Times
