Published: Tuesday, 2nd February, 2010 1:50pm

Pool Fury As SAC Pull Plug on Plans

by Roisin McGroarty

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SAVE OUR POOL: Previous protests against the pool closure went unheard as officers and councillors last week voted in favour of tearing down the building

CARRICK residents are still reeling after the plug was pulled on plans for a new Girvan Pool.

A private community bid by eight local businessmen could have seen a new swimming complex in the town.

But council chiefs vetoed the Girvan Swimming Pool Ltd plans, promising 'something' else, despite needing to chop £35million worth of community facilities, council jobs and services in the next four years. They also agreed to splash £270,000 in ripping down the old pool in the next couple of months.

Speaking afterwards Girvan Community Council member Alec Clark said: "My call to Hugh Hunter and the other councillors is could you now please tell us a timescale, funding and who is going to pay for it as they keep telling us they have no money and yet are going to spend half a million pounds in tax payers money knocking down a building that is still useable."

Girvan and South Carrick Councillor John McDowall - who had proposed for the bid being given the green-light - said: "There is no argument that this could not have been done, it is a lost opportunity to enter a new partnership. There is no going back now.

"The people of Girvan have been led up the garden path twice, one with the Scottish Government Town Regeneration fund and now with the pool."

Full story in this week's paper, on sale now.