Question reference: S6W-25257
- Date lodged: 6 February 2024
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Current status: Answered by Maree Todd on 28 February 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many leisure centres have closed over the last five years, broken down by (a) local authority area and (b) year of closure.
Answer
The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. You may wish to contact individual local authorities who may hold this information.
The Scottish Government places great importance on community sports and leisure facilities. They are crucial to the wellbeing of all our country and most importantly, for our children and young people to be healthy and active.
We have asked sportscotland to undertake a review of the facilities estate which will provide vital information in understanding the sport and leisure facilities provision in the long term. In addition, sportscotland and Scottish Swimming have recently published a detailed research study into the condition of Scotland’s swimming pools. The Future of Swimming Facilities in Scotland - sportscotland the national agency for sport in Scotland
We are fully aware that local authorities are facing challenging financial circumstances, particularly in the maintenance and operating of facilities, largely due to energy costs and other cost of living pressures. sportscotland will continue to work with its local partners to help them assess the impact of any potential facility closures across the country. In addition, the Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Sport and officials engage regularly with Community Leisure UK to discuss the local public facilities landscape.
In recognition of the importance of access to sports and leisure facilities, our Programme for Government sets out our intention to convene a working group, including representatives of sports organisations, community organisations and CoSLA, to explore how community access to community facilities, such as the school estate, can be enhanced.