Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Delight from swimmers as councillor dives in to promise repair of Airdrie pool
The promise from council leader Jim Logue that John Smith pool in Airdrie will be repaired and reopened made a splash with the Advertiser’s friends on Facebook.
Local residents were delighted to hear him say that the facility – currently closed to the public indefinitely after the need was identified for repair work costing six figures – will be reopened.
He said: “The money will be found to carry out whatever repair works arise,” and added: “I will not allow this setback to see the pool close permanently.”
Sharon Duncan called it “great news”; and Heather Paterson, Evelyn Nicholl and Mark Russell were among several who posted: “Well done Jim.”
Kirsty Macleod said: “We were told yesterday at my daughter’s swimming lesson that it’s closing shortly until the end of January, and we could either suspend lessons/payment or relocate to another North Lanarkshire Leisure pool.”
Jim Brady commented: “Maybe someone should take a look up South Bridge Street and save that – absolute shambles, the council should be ashamed allowing a town centre to get into a state like that.
“The shops are either sitting empty or look like they have been thrown together with any old scrap material laying around. Where is the encouragement for investment, grants to fix the eyesores roofs on these buildings?”
Kathleen Weetman added: “Good for [Logue]. Maybe he can now dive in and save the area under threat in Calderbank, revitalise the town centre instead, stop the Europark development.”
There was also praise for Dunbeth FC – who have launched a foundation to provide life-saving defibrillators to sports clubs in memory of 13-year-old Kieran McDade, who tragically died in August after suffering a cardiac arrest during training.
Marion Florence said: “Fabulous cause. I’ve just been trained to use these and will be telling Tia how they can save other people’s lives, all in the name of her Uncle Kieran.”