Sabbath swimming ban challenged

Pools in other parts of the islands are open on Sundays

The mother of a 10-year-old girl in the Western Isles is challenging the council's policy of closing some of its swimming pools on Sundays.

Western Isles Council - Comhairle nan Eilean Siar - shuts pools on Lewis in accordance with the Sabbath, while sites on other isles stay open.

Ellen MacLeod's mother, Helen, has approached solicitors about challenging the policy in the Court of Session.

The comhairle said it would defend any legal action.

Ellen uses the pool at Lewis Sports Centre in Stornoway, but it along with Lionel and Shawbost are closed on Sundays.

'Somewhat bizarre'

Lewis is known for its observance of the Sabbath and organisations such as the Lords Day Observance Society opposed the launch of Sunday ferries between the island and the mainland.

Swimming pools on the islands of Benbecula and Barra are open on Sundays.

Ross Harper Solicitors have so far sought counsel's opinion on the legal move.

Paul McHolland, of Robin Harper Solicitors, said opinion received backed the MacLeods' argument on two grounds.

He said: "The first ground is the decision of the Western Isles Council is irrational and no reasonable council would have come to this decision.

"Secondly, that they are in breach of the Equality Act 2006 in that they are being discriminatory by agreeing to open their sports centres in the South Uist and Barra area but not the one in Stornoway."

Mrs MacLeod has declined to comment.

A comhairle spokesman said the authority would defend any legal action.

He said: "Is a court really going to dictate the opening hours of facilities to a local authority?

"That would be somewhat bizarre, particularly in these times of extreme budgetary pressures when opening hours are being looked at with a view to possible savings.

"The comhairle is confident that the opening hours of Lewis Sports Centre compare favourably with other such facilities in Scotland."

The Reverend Iver Martin, minister of Stornoway Free Church, said he was not against swimming on Sundays but was opposed to leisure staff being told to work on the Sabbath.

He said: "It is first of all people being employed on Sunday unnecessarily.

"Then secondly young people who are today in the habit of going to church will inevitably in the future be drawn to alternatives provided by the sports centre.

"There will, for sure, be competitions and tournaments in years to come, all of which will put a distraction into the way of teenagers and give rise to tension within families who wish to worship."

He added that opening of the sports centre would be followed by shops opening on the Sabbath.

Lay down

In the summer, a veteran campaigner against ferries sailing to the Western Isles on the Sabbath said services to Lewis would bring "things that terrified parents".

The Reverend Angus Smith lay down on the pier in Kyleakin in 1965 when the first Sunday ferry sailed to the isle of Skye.

He said services to Lewis would lead to shops opening on Sundays and the arrival of crime from the mainland.

However, writer and broadcaster Dr Finlay Macleod, who supported the service, said it would be good for the island.

The Lewis ferry service was launched in July.