Leisure bosses to give centre a sporting chance

A CITY leisure centre threatened with closure has been given four months to improve income or face having its opening hours slashed.

Bosses at Edinburgh Leisure, which manages the city's sports facilities, have vowed to work with community groups to encourage more people to use Kirkliston Leisure Centre.

Organisers of a seniors' football league - which included former Hearts goalkeeper Henry Smith - that disbanded more than three years ago after losing its regular Tuesday night slot because of complaints about bad language and rowdy behaviour, are among those to be asked back by bosses.

The centre is thought to be at risk of being closed down over the next three years as Edinburgh Leisure faces up to annual cuts to its funding.

But chief executive John Comiskey has insisted that closure is a last resort as Kirkliston is due to almost double in size as a result of a new housing development, which could provide much-needed new income.

The company is to assess whether the new business drive has been a success at the end of March. A first step towards savings could see it having its opening hours cut as it is said to be quiet during the daytime.

Mr Comiskey said: "We have looked at the centre and it is relatively expensive to run. It is well-utilised in the evening but quiet during the day. One option is to restrict opening hours but we have decided not to go for that at this stage.

"We are going to explore all options and work with the local community council to try to improve utilisation of the centre through marketing."

The Evening News revealed earlier this year that Kirkliston Leisure Centre was one of five facilities at risk of closure as a result of cuts in Edinburgh Leisure's funding from the city council and other financial pressures.

Bosses last week unveiled nearly 500,000 of proposals, including the closure of Crags Sports Centre, axeing free swimming for primary school children and a hike in the cost of swimming for people over the age of 60. But further closures could be needed in the next three years.

Organisers of the Kirkliston seniors league are among those being asked back. The league, for players aged 40-plus, was axed in 2007 after a row about the bad language of players.

Gordon Muir, 51, a designer who was one of the league's organisers, said: "It is ironic that, having effectively booted us out they have come back and tried to get us back. Over a period of nine or ten years we were their biggest client and must have given them close to 100,000. It was entirely predicted that it could face closure as a result of the decision."