Cash-strapped council to close two leisure centre cafes.

REDUNDANCIES: Eateries will be replaced by vending machines at both sites which will save the council money as jobs are axed

Cafés at two leisure centres will close within months as cash-strapped Fife Council battles substantial financial challenges.

The loss-making facilities at Kirkcaldy and Levenmouth are earmarked for closure on March 25 and affected employees have been told.

They will be replaced by vending machines as part of the effort to find £32 million of savings.

The move comes just three years after the £15.3m state-of-the-art Kirkcaldy leisure centre opened in a blaze of glory on the seafront, replacing the old, dilapidated swimming pool building.

It also follows a cut in opening hours at the Levenmouth sports centre café in June 2013, due to a lack of customers.

There were fears at that time it would eventually close altogether.

Levenmouth councillor David Alexander described the news as very disappointing.

“We keep hearing that the targeted things we are doing to get people into the pools are working,” he said.

“If more and more people are going then why are cafés having to be closed? “The two things don’t tie in.” He added: “There have to be facilities to attract people into leisure centres or it will just turn folk off.”

Councillor Tom Adams, chairman of Levenmouth area committee, said he and his Kirkcaldy counterpart Neil Crooks had reluctantly agreed with the recommendation after hearing that the cafés were losing money “hand over fist”.

“It was predicted when they cut the hours a few years ago that this would happen,” he said.

“It was reluctant but that’s the way of the world.”

Mr Adams expressed hope that a private operator would come forward to take over the operation of the cafés once the council moves out in March.

The leisure centres are operated by Fife Sports and Leisure Trust but the cafés are managed and operated by the council.

Senior manager Angus Thomson said they had been operating at a loss for some time.

“This is despite a range of efforts, including changes to the opening times, menu adaptations and promotions and changes to employee rotas,” he said.

“In light of substantial financial challenges, we are unable to continue subsidising these loss-making cafés and have taken the decision to close the catering provision.”

It was predicted when they cut the hours a few years ago that this would happen. COUNCILLOR TOM ADAMS