Councils dip into pool millions

Aberdeen and Edinburgh will be the first recipients of millions of pounds in 2014 Commonwealth Games Legacy funding, it has been announced.

Aberdeen City Council is to receive £5m for its proposal for a 50m swimming pool.

However, this is subject to a "detailed, affordable, business plan".

Edinburgh will receive an extra £1m to add to the £4m already allocated for the refurbishment of the Royal Commonwealth Pool.

Sports Minister Stewart Maxwell said the funding was through the National and Regional Sports Facilities Strategy (NRSFS).

'Absolutely fantastic'

Mr Maxwell said: "This investment underlines this government's commitment to Scottish sport and our aim to make the most of our 2014 Commonwealth Games legacy.

"Scottish swimmers have excelled in recent years - not least at the recent world short-course championships - and they deserve the best training facilities to allow them to reach their full potential."

Aberdeen City Council leaders Kate Dean and Kevin Stewart said in a statement: "We are absolutely delighted with the news of the Scottish Government's commitment to the 50m pool.

"The city council has already committed £10m of capital funding towards this project and £100,000 of developmental funding committed by us and the University of Aberdeen.

"It is absolutely fantastic that we will have a facility like this on our own doorstep to nurture home-grown talent who will follow in the footsteps of world-class athletes like David Carry, Robbie Renwick and Hannah Miley."

Edinburgh Council welcomed the funding, but said more money was still needed.

Leader Jenny Dawe said: "The overall £5m government investment will help us to get going with the £37m project but we must be mindful that we may need to identify further funds in the future as the project develops.

"We are now also in the process of working up proposals for a new facility at Meadowbank and we will be approaching the Scottish Government soon to discuss funding issues."