NEGOTIATIONS are ongoing for interim access to swimming pools in and around the Wee County in the wake of the Alloa Leisure Bowl closure.

Clackmannanshire's councillors will hear next Monday, May 31, that the local authority is currently in the process of negotiating access for residents to the swimming pools at Dollar Academy and the Scottish Police College in Tulliallan.

Access to the two pools would form part of interim arrangements before a wellbeing complex or campus is developed in Alloa – replacing the leisure bowl.

Council papers added that "negotiations to support the Alloa Swimming Club are being dealt with separately".

The update, to go in front of a special council meeting, will also hear that Wasp Leisure Limited is to officially hand over the leisure bowl to the council on June 30.

If agreed, arrangements will then be put in place to demolish the metal-clad building, with £400,000 already set aside for this purpose.

The land will be retained thereafter.

Council documents to be tabled on the day said that a number of activities which were previously provided at Alloa Leisure Bowl are available in Clackmannanshire with maps produced for elected members to showcase various opportunities.

The council is also developing an enhanced programme of activities for children in the coming months as part of the Scottish Government's Summer of Play/Sport initiative.

This will have a "specific focus on children and young people who have missed out most or experienced the greatest disadvantage during the pandemic".

Consultation with community groups, young people, families, MCR Pathways and SportScotland is ongoing to deliver the programme – including a "swimming offer for groups of children and young people".

The update follows an online survey of residents on existing and future leisure provision as well as an "extensive series of focus groups" with nearly 50 specific interest organisations, sports clubs, disability groups and more.

The report said: "The evidence from the leisure survey and the focus groups as part of the preliminary consultation evidences that people have had to seek alternative physical activities during Covid-19 and while sports facilities were closed.

"Use of the paths network for walking and cycling, alternative travel and outdoor activity has increased."

The survey also provided "clear evidence" that a swimming pool is required in Clacks.

It also emerged that younger people are looking for multi-sports opportunities while residents are in need of fully accessible facilities.

Plans for the wellbeing complex which will replace the leisure bowl could still take some time.

The council is at "stage 0" or "strategic definition" of a seven-stage process and a number of options are being considered.

One of the options would be "a significant transformation and regeneration project with the wellbeing campus integrated into a wider regeneration masterplan that delivers on employment and economic benefits, construction and housing, green spaces and open spaces, active travel and other travel infrastructure that has community ownership and design at its centre and will enhance community pride in the county town and region".