Jedburgh swimming pool bailout refusal U-turn urged

Councillors endorsed a recommendation not to support a funding request to support Jedburgh’s Laidlaw Memorial Pool at a meeting on Thursday (November 28).

The pool, run by the Jedburgh Leisure Facilities Trust (JLFT), is set to close its doors tonight (Friday, November 29).

Scottish Borders Council (SBC) leader Euan Jardine said he recognised that the decision was a difficult one but described it as “pragmatic”.

He said the aim was for a “reset” and that other avenues would be explored with hopes remaining that the pool, where Olympian Lucy Hope learned to swim, could reopen in the future.

But, in a joint statement, the board of trustees called on SBC to collaborate with the JLFT “in finding a solution that safeguards” the pool.

The statement reads: “For over 20 years, JLFT has successfully managed the swimming pool and gym without requiring additional council funding.

“However, despite tireless efforts to sustain operations, rising financial pressures and failing infrastructure has left the facility in urgent need of support from SBC.

“Our community is united in its commitment to saving this vital resource. The Laidlaw Memorial Pool is more than just a swimming pool — it is a lifeline, a symbol of our local heritage, and a cornerstone of public well-being.

“In September, SBC provided £40,000 to assist the pool, with a shared understanding that further discussions about its future would follow. Since then, JLFT’s volunteer board has worked closely with South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) and other advisors, as directed by SBC, to implement significant changes to governance, management, and operations. Every effort has been made to reduce costs and maximise income, and medium- and long-term plans have been developed to enhance sustainability.

“Despite these comprehensive efforts, the necessary financial support has not been secured. SBC has declined to provide additional funding.”

The board confirmed the pool would not reopen on Monday and said all staff had been made aware and were being supported.

The statement adds: “We formally urge SBC to reconsider its decision and recognise the profound positive impact this pool has on the health, well-being, and spirit of our community. With your intervention, the Trust and the community can work together to secure its future for generations to come. The Laidlaw Memorial Pool has long been a beacon of resilience in Jedburgh and the wider Scottish Borders.

“While we understand the financial pressures facing SBC, we believe closing this much-loved community asset - one that provides vital life-saving and health-promoting services — should be an absolute last resort.”

All three Jedburgh councillors argued in favour of the bailout, and received support from Hawick and Denholm representative Stuart Marshall.

They were well beaten as 26 members across the chamber backed the cash refusal.

A report ahead of the meeting stated that SBC was facing a reported £4m financial shortfall, with difficult decisions needed to balance the budget.

Selkirkshire councillor Leagh Douglas, SBC’s portfolio holder for finance, IT and corporate performance, said: “We must ensure that every pound of public money is allocated where it can deliver the greatest benefit to the widest number of people with the focus on long-term sustainability.

“I want to reassure the community that this is not the end of the discussion about the future of this facility.

“This is a profoundly challenging situation but we need to act responsibly in the face of serious financial constraints. While I support the recommendation not to support additional funding at this time, I remain fully committed to providing sustainable solutions for leisure facilities in Jedburgh and indeed across the whole of the Scottish Borders.”