Revealed: List of properties identified for closure as part of shake-up of cultural, sport and leisure services in the Scottish Borders

More than 50 jobs could be axed as part of a huge shake-up of cultural, sport and leisure services in the Scottish Borders.

Libraries, community centres, museums, town halls, and swimming pools have all been identified for closure, as part of plans to make them more financially sustainable - and save up to £3 million a year.

Scottish Borders Council is set to discuss the report by Integratis Consulting when it meets on Thursday.

But local authority leader Euan Jardine has stressed no decisions will be made until communities have been consulted.

Among the buildings at risk of being closed are: TriFitness, Queen's Leisure Centre, Langlee Community Centre, Focus Centre, and Old Gala House in Galashiels; Selkirk Leisure Centre, Sir Walter Scott's Courtroom, Selkirk Caravan Park, and Halliwell's House Museum in Selkirk; Borders Textile Towerhouse and Wilton Primary Swimming Pool in Hawick; St Ronan's Wells Visitor Centre in Innerleithen; the Drill Hall in Peebles; Tweedbank Community Centre; and Newtown Community Wing.

It's also being proposed to maintain the closure of the Laidlaw Memorial Pool and Fitness Centre in Jedburgh, despite a huge show of support at a public meeting in the town last month - "unless significant external investment and a sustainable operational model can be identified".

Libraries in Coldstream, Eyemouth, Earlston and Duns could also be closed and replaced with an expanded mobile library service, unless room can be found in neighbouring attractions.

Stow Town Hall, Jedburgh Town Hall, Lauder Public Hall, Innerleithen Memorial Hall, and West Linton's Graham Institute could also shut their doors, unless a local group can present a viable case for taking them over.

It's also being proposed merging all archive functions from Hawick Heritage Hub at St Mary's Mill in Selkirk, and repurposing the Hawick site for business use; while also "integrating" the Heart of Hawick with the Textile Tower House.

The Abbey Row Community Centre in Kelso, Argus Community Centre in Selkirk, Newcastleton No. 8 Club and Coldstream Museum are also at risk.

However, the report highlights that Coldstream Museum is "a Common Good asset, and further investigation is required into the title and any associated restrictions which may apply regarding its disposal."

Many of the services under-threat are currently managed by the charitable trust Live Borders.

The Borders Sporting and Cultural Estate Review reveals the cost of running them soared to £12.57 million in the financial year 2023-24 - an increase of 17 per cent since 2019-20.

While leisure venue usage remains 10 per cent below pre-pandemic levels, energy costs have nearly doubled.

The report states: "The overall trend indicates recovery in certain areas like café services and 3G pitch hire. However, key income sources such as membership subscriptions and wet activities have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels.

"Addressing these declines while building on areas of growth will be essential for achieving long-term financial sustainability."

It's estimated the changes being proposed would result in the reduction of 52.63 full-time equivalent jobs - saving £1.62 million a year.

However, the potential transfer of Live Borders backroom duties (HR/finance/payroll) to the council could also save a further £410,000 a year.

It's hoped the move could help free up cash to invest in attractions like Teviotdale Leisure Centre in Hawick, Gytes Leisure Centre in Peebles and the sports complex at Tweedbank.

First to react to the report this evening is Galashiels and District councillor Fay Sinclair, who plans to oppose the closures. In a statement, she said: "It was always likely that this report would make uncomfortable reading, but the scale of proposed closures is a real shock.

"Among the buildings proposed to be closed are the Focus Centre and Langlee Community Centre in Galashiels which are both really well used, so if these plans are progressed it will impact on thousands of people.

"The Focus Centre is also the home of Borders Additional Needs Group which supports 100 neurodivergent young people, as well as Borders In Recovery - providing lifeline support to people recovering from addiction - so any disruption to their services would harm some of the most vulnerable members of our community.

"It is appalling that things have been allowed to get this bad. Communities deserve better."

Ongoing financial pressures at Live Borders have required the Council to provide millions of pounds of additional funding over recent years, including an extra £1.8million in 2025/26. This is on top of a £4.8m annual management fee.

And Councillor Jardine says continuing with the status quo is not an option.

“Following the completion of the consultants’ work we now need to start considering, with input from our stakeholders and communities, what our options are," he said.

"No decisions on services or facilities are being taken at this stage. Robust and transparent engagement will happen before councillors consider any specific recommendations."

The Leader added: “The consultants have looked objectively at a whole range of information and have presented us with a data-driven, evidence-based report, which provides the Council and our communities with a lot of food for thought."

No consultation is planned over the future of Galashiels swimming pool, which is due to be demolished to make way for a car park for the town's new secondary school.

However, the consultant's report highlights public access arrangements to the pool being built in the new community campus still need to be confirmed during school times.

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