STAFF at Alloa Leisure Bowl are marking the "end of an era" with concerns growing for the many groups based at the facilities.

As reported last week, the iconic metal-clad building is set to close for good after some three decades of operations.

Cassie McClements, who used to staff the reception desk and the bar over the past six years, told the Advertiser: "I think it's disappointment [we are feeling] more than anything else because we had this fight two years ago.

"Regardless if the Leisure Bowl opened again or didn't, Clackmannanshire Council has a duty of care and in that there should have been plans for another swimming pool in place.

"My wee girl, she has been at the swimming lessons down there for two years and that's the most vital part of this whole thing, it's the children in this area that are being denied the basic right to learn how to swim."

Cassie, who first got in the pool with Alloa Swimming Club along with her sisters who later became lifeguards, understands the importance of such opportunities first-hand.

She worries many people will not be able to afford to travel outside the county to access a pool while future plans are still being developed in Clacks.

Cassie said: "Just being able to get in the water with the other children...you can see it in them at our group swimming lessons; they absolutely loved it.

"And for a lot of them it was the only thing they had that week for themselves."

The Leisure Bowl was much more than just a swimming opportunity, as Cassie added: "I was greeting people coming through the door and I could be here for hours telling you stories about individual people and their reasons for coming.

"Every single facility in that building was used to the max."

At the council meeting where the decision was taken, council leader Ellen Forson explained that the leisure estate and provision in the Wee County has been subject to review, as it was agreed in 2019.

However, she added: "Last year was practically wiped out through the pandemic, where officers were moved on to the immediate response to that [coronavirus] so I can completely understand why the leisure review wasn't fully completed.

"But what was becoming clear through the work that had been done was that the Leisure Bowl was not necessarily the way forward for Clackmannanshire and not necessarily the best value to the taxpayer in Clackmannanshire and not necessarily how we may want to deliver leisure provision."

While questions over future provision remain, Cassie – like many others – will be taking nothing but good memories away.

She said: "The best memories for me are just the laughs and the relationships that every member of staff built up with customers.

"There was a wee girl, her mum got her swimming instructor's face printed on her swimming costume because she loved him so much – it's just wee small things like that."

Alex McQuillian used to work as leisure co-ordinator with the council has stayed involved with the Leisure Bowl since.

He also highlighted how the facility used to provide a safe meeting ground for many vulnerable adults and groups in the Wee County.

Following one final meeting of staff last week, Alex told the Advertiser: "The staff were really sad yesterday.

"It just shows they thoroughly enjoyed what they were doing, it was a great place to be.

"It was good to be involved in it; I'm feeling it now because that's it.There's plenty of other stuff I can do, but I was happy to be involved in there.

"It's the end of an era."