Sports Facilities Update – Swimming Pools

Since the First Minister’s announcement on Thursday 20^th August bringing forward the date that some indoor sports activities can look to recommence, Sport and Health staff have been progressing the crucial elements that are required before any of our facilities can reopen safely for our customers and staff.

During lockdown, swimming pools across the Outer Hebrides have been looked after by staff on site to ensure that once the appropriate stage of the Scottish Government roadmap was reached that we would be able to return them to use as quickly as possible.

There are a number of technical issues that we must also adhere to before we can start to go back into the water safely.  It is also vitally important that Lifeguard’s undertake re-induction training which includes pool based competency assessments before we reopen. This can only be undertaken when the pools are up to temperature and appropriate microbiological results are in place. These processes rely on external contractors to provide this specialist service and we are working with them to progress this as promptly as possible.

Our pools at Lionel and Shawbost will not be available until Phase 4 of the Scottish Government roadmap because of operational reasons relating to their position within school sites.

Each of our facilities will be operating on limited capacity in line with Scottish Government and national guidance. We will update customers as soon as we can with more information about specific opening dates and booking arrangements and Sport and Health staff are grateful for everyone’s understanding these difficult times for us all.