THINGS are finally going swimmingly at leisure facilities in the Borders.

A week later than planned, the swimming pool at Teviotdale Leisure Centre in Hawick reopened on Wednesday (April 3).

It had been closed for most of last month for essential work – leaving some users with a 22-mile round-trip to Selkirk for sessions.

The centre’s soft play, gym, café and bowls reopened on Good Friday.

A spokesperson for the centre operators Live Borders said: “We are pleased to advise that the pool at Teviotdale Leisure Centre has reopened.

“All swimming lessons have resumed at Teviotdale and all groups are being contacted.

“Thank you for your understanding and support; the team couldn’t wait to welcome you all back to the pool!”

Meanwhile, Eyemouth Leisure Centre is due to reopen on Friday (April 5).

The indoor swimming pool and gym next to the seafront has been closed for repairs to its heating and ventilation system, which are expected to slash its energy bills by a fifth, since November 20 last year.

Additionally, new equipment installed includes additional treadmills, a cross-trainer, a recumbent bike and a spin bike, which will all complement the existing cardio and resistance machines.

At a recent meeting of Scottish Borders Council, Hawick and Denholm councillor Stuart Marshall sought assurances that the closure of Teviotdale was not the “beginning of the end” of the facility.

He said: “Since these closures were first announced a couple of weeks ago it has been put to me by many regular users of the facility, and in particular those who frequently attend the gym or the swimming pool, are we witnessing the beginning of the end of our leisure facility in Hawick?

“My response to those users groups is that I’m hopeful that by carrying out such important upgrades and in continuing to invest in identifying maintenance issues in the building it will hopefully provide reassurance to the townsfolk and the wider Borders community, that Teviotdale will come out of this much stronger and I’m keeping everything crossed that that is indeed the case.”