Councillors to decide on future of Bucksburn Pool and libraries next week

Councillors will have the final say on the future of Bucksburn Swimming Pool and six city libraries next week.

At a full council meeting on Wednesday December 13, two options will be put forward which include sticking with the original decision meaning the facilities will remain closed, or overturning which would see their reopening.

It follows a consultation which took place from September to November to gather information on the impact of the closures.

Cornhill, Cults, Ferryhill, Kaimhill, Northfield and Woodside libraries will be voted on as a whole which has caused frustration amongst campaigners.

Hayden Lorimer from Save Aberdeen Libraries Campaign said a third option should be available as the current two provide an "all or nothing" choice.

He said: "The information collected was about six different libraries. Six different communities affected. There’s information in the report about the costings associated with the potential reopening of those libraries – those costings are different.

"So, in each case we have a community and a library which are different to the others. It seems strange then to shove them all together into one big bundle and simply say you either keep these closed or you open them again. We’re puzzled."

The closures in March prompted a huge campaign which lead to court action involving four separate judicial reviews.

Aberdeen City Council came to an agreement with the petitioners that a consultation would be launched exploring the two options and impacts.

Ahead of the meeting next week, SNP politicians have written to council co-leaders Ian Yuill and Christian Allard pushing for a U-turn on Bucksburn pool.

MSP for Aberdeen Donside Jackie Baillie says councillors should think "long and hard" before any decisions are made.

She was later joined in the calls by Kirsty Blackman MP, who explained she continues to receive a significant correspondence from residents on the matter, and encouraged the council to work with Sport Aberdeen in reopening the "much-loved" pool for residents.

If councillors choose to reverse either closure the money will have to be factored into the upcoming budget - they're already looking at plugging a £35 million black hole.

The estimated cost of recommissioning the pool is around £75k to £1 million which includes a new £450k ventilation plant.

For the libraries, the estimated cost of reopening would be at an estimated cost of £128k.

Mr Lorimer continued to discuss the possibility of the libraries remaining closed after next Wednesday: "I think for a campaigning group it would be deeply, deeply saddening and for a city, it would raise very big questions.

"It’s very difficult to contemplate a city with a significantly reduced library service in terms of branch and community libraries dropping by 30%. That would leave Aberdeen sitting very low and ranking very low across the country."