A BORDERS swimming pool will close on weekends in a bid to keep the struggling facility afloat.

Back in August, Scottish Borders Council (SBC) agreed an emergency £40k bail-out for the Jedburgh site.

That came about after Jedburgh Facilities Leisure Trust (JFLT), operators of the town’s Laidlaw Swimming Pool and Fitness Centre, wrote to SBC to inform council officers and councillors it was close to insolvency.

The trust asked that as a “matter of urgency” the council provide a letter of comfort confirming support that would enable it to continue trading and that it was supplied “with enough funds to pay off residual and current debt obligations until a formal award is made by the council”.

When members of SBC met they agreed to a payment of £40,000 in emergency funding from council reserves as an interim payment to keep the swimming pool operating in the short-term as the trust formulated a business plan.

Now in another attempt to balance the books weekend closures have been launched, which started on Saturday (November 2).

A JLFT spokesperson said: “We regret to inform you that, due to the current financial challenges facing Jedburgh Swimming Pool, we will be implementing weekend closures starting from Saturday (November 2).

“These closures will be in place until further notice, as we work hard to identify sustainable solutions for the pool’s future.

“We understand that this decision may cause disappointment, but it is a necessary step to ensure the long-term survival of this vital community resource. We greatly appreciate your understanding and support during this time.

“The decision to close on weekends was based on consistently low attendance during those times.

“While some have suggested closing on a weekday instead, this would impact a full schedule of lessons.

“Please know that we’re committed to keeping the pool open and will continue to assess and adapt as needed.”