Hope drained for Leith Waterworld

CAMPAIGNERS battling to halt the closure of a leisure pool have criticised a vote by councillors which has dashed their hopes.

Protester had pleaded with Edinburgh City Council to reverse a decision to shut down Leith Waterworld next month – six years after voting to sell off the pool to help pay for the revamp of another swim complex.

The refurbished Royal Commonwealth Pool is due to re-open in March after a £37 million overhaul and the council claimed reprieving the Leith complex would have left it with a £5.5m black hole in its budget.

A spokesman for Splashback said: “We are astonished the council has not been able to meet a commitment to keep Leith Waterworld open until the Royal Commonwealth Pool is fully reopened.”