Shopkeepers: Don’t pull the plug on pools

Nov 17 2009 by Alison Rennie, Paisley Daily Express

WORRIED shopkeepers fear their businesses could sink without trace if council chiefs go ahead with controversial plans to close two swimming pools.

Renfrewshire Council intends to shut down the pools in Johnstone and Elderslie as part of a massive shake-up of leisure services.

But people who run businesses near the pools believe the closures would be “disastrous” for trade.

Stacey Thomson, who has been in charge at The Pet Shop in Johnstone for the last seven years, said the council’s plans would kill off the town centre.

There are currently five full-time members of staff at the shop but Stacey, 35, has warned she may have to take drastic action if Johnstone’s pool is closed.

She said: “I’m quite sure that, if this goes ahead, it will have such an impact on my business that I will have to lay somebody off or make one or two staff part-time.

“We can’t lose this swimming pool without it having a serious impact on my business.”

Stacey has given her backing to the Johnstone and Elderslie Save Our Swimming Pool campaign by handing out leaflets and urging customers to sign an online petition.

She added: “I was horrified when I heard about the plans. A lot of kids come in here on their way to or from the swimming baths.

“Even if they don’t buy something there and then, they might go home and ask their parents to come back. I’d miss the people just popping in here for a look.”

Pat Reid, who is the manager of the Wimpy fast food restaurant in Johnstone and has worked there since it opened 33 years ago, is also worried about the impact the pool closure would have on trade.

She said: “There is a lot of passing trade here from the baths and we’re all worried about what would happen if the closure goes ahead.

“I think what the council is doing is terrible.”

Traders in Elderslie are also urging council chiefs to think again.

William Muir is manager of Meat at Muirs, which opened in Stoddart Square, next door to the doomed Elderslie pool, seven years ago.

He said: “This is definitely going to have an effect on business, without a doubt.

“A lot of people who visit Elderslie pool come in here to buy meat.

“I’m not the only one who is worried about this, everyone is. The pool is a landmark in Elderslie and everyone knows where it is.

“We’ve already lost our library and people are very concerned about losing the pool.”

Council chiefs plan to replace the two pools with new facilities at Johnstone High School and in Linwood.

They insist the new facilities will be good for both communiies.

A council spokesperson said: “It’s understandable some businesses which are located next to the existing facilities may want to keep the status quo. However, that isn’t always the best way to respond to future challenges.

“The council has a certain amount of resources and there will be increasing pressure on funding in the years to come. It’s not necessarily the best use of those to maintain current facilities which are no longer of the standard people expect and which would require significant investment in a few years.

“We can assure businesses that we are taking forward work with consultants to look at options to regenerate Johnstone and Elderslie town centres and there will be consultation and discussion with those communities in the coming months.”