CONCERNS: West of Scotland diving could be at risk in this latest council vote (Image: Ayr Diving Club)
An Ayrshire diving club are calling on “as many people as possible” to turn out for a key meeting, to determine the future of the sport in the west.
Ayr Diving Club put out the appeal on their social media this week as councillors will vote today (14 May) whether the activity will remain in the region.
Ayr’s Citadel diving pool has become the focal point for participants in the sport over the years, but concerns are growing over it’s potential closure with facilities now being removed.
The club have expressed their fears of a negative outcome in this latest development, believing that this decision “will affect far more than a diving board”.
In a series of posts leading up to this crucial meeting, a spokesperson form ADC said: “Please if you are free come along and support the club. The bigger the turn-out, the more chance the meeting will be successful.
“This decision will affect young athletes coaches, families and future generation of divers across the west of Scotland.
“If diving facilities continue to be removed in Ayrshire, opportunities like this become harder for young athletes.”
“For many, Ayr Diving Club is more than a club. It is an opportunity, confidence, friendship and ambition.”
Further posts showed their frustration towards South Ayrshire Council removing the three metre springboard at the Citadel, placing it in storage ahead of the meeting
The club’s latest outing was at Dundee Olympia, competing against Dundee, Aberdeen, and Edinburgh clubs, on 10 May where their divers returned with four medals out of five.
This latest success was followed up by saying: “But instead of celebrating the future of the sport, we are now approaching a vote that could threaten it.”
Young divers have been strong to tell of the impact the sport has on them, believing that it helps them “overcome fear” and “make them confident in and out of the pool”.
ADC have produced a report outlining the athlete’s impact, consultation and communication concerns, and proposals for the near future which can be found here.
