Fife Sports and Leisure Trust bosses have been challenged to face the public over controversial plans to slash opening hours at centres in Cupar and St Andrews.
North East Fife SNP MP Stephen Gethins has called for trust chief executive Ed Watson to attend a public meeting following a backlash against the proposals.
Operating hours at Cupar Leisure Centre and at the East Sands Leisure Centre in St Andrews are to be trimmed by 12 hours and nine hours a week respectively from October 19.
Users have raised concerns about proposed 9am starts on some weekdays and 2.30pm weekend finishes.
The trust says the decision to change hours was due to budget pressures, adding the move will save around £84,000.
Mr Gethins said he had been inundated with letters and emails from constituents, including many retired people who make daily early morning visits to Cupar swimming pool and local sports clubs.
He said: “It is clear that these changes, which have been decided with no consultation with the public or their elected representatives in a bid to save the trust money, will have a hugely detrimental impact on many people, including retired folk who use the pool to stay active, as well as many of the sports groups which are vital to encouraging fit and healthy lifestyles.
“In some cases, this is also about providing opportunity for the development of our next generation of athletes.”
He said he had written to Mr Watson to highlight the likely impact on communities, the potential for social exclusion, the related cost to health and social services if people are less fit and the financial and environmental implications if people are forced to travel to facilities elsewhere.
“I hope he or a representative of the trust will take me up on my offer of meeting with constituents before the intended date for these changes.
“We must work together to find a way forward so that people in North East Fife can continue to enjoy the same level of service and not lose out.
“A decade of Westminster austerity has been challenging for local authorities but these are key local services that we need to do our utmost to protect.”
A Fife Sports and Leisure Trust spokeswoman said: “We welcome Stephen Gethins’ interest in the trust and the budget pressures it now faces following the announced management fee from Fife Council – he has indicated that he will continue to make the case against the austerity agenda which is impacting on organisations like the trust which is striving to deliver quality services for local communities.
“We will be contacting Mr Gethins directly with regards his invitation to meet and look forward to making him more fully aware of the trust’s savings programme.”
