Local campaigners to march for reopening of Scalloway pool
Campaigners hoping to save Scalloway Swimming Pool will stage a peaceful protest march in Lerwick next Friday, assembling at Clickimin car park before a route that takes them to key local institutions and back.
The demonstration, organised by the group opposing the pool’s closure, will start with gathering at Clickimin and proceed to the Shetland Charitable Trust premises on North Road. From there protesters will walk to the local authority’s offices at North Ness before returning to Clickimin, organisers say.
“How long will the grass grow around the Scalloway pool.”
The placard-style slogan used by the campaign underlines public frustration since the facility was closed by Shetland Recreational Trust earlier this year. Organisers have invited families and friends to take part in what they describe as a peaceful, community-focused action aimed at drawing attention to the importance of the pool.
What organisers have told the public
Protesters are asked to gather from the afternoon of 14 August. The group has emphasised that the event is intended for all ages and that participants are welcome to bring children and supporters. It is being presented as a way to visibly demonstrate local feeling about the loss of a well-used community amenity.
The closure has prompted a local campaign arguing the pool is a much-loved resource and should be reopened. The demonstrators will visit both the charitable trust’s premises and the council offices to highlight the issue to institutions they see as central to any discussions about the pool’s future.
Route, timing and practical details
For clarity, the organisers have communicated the following logistical details, helping Lerwick residents decide whether to attend:
- Assemble: Clickimin car park
- Date: From 14 August (gathering in the afternoon)
- Route: Clickimin → Shetland Charitable Trust, North Road → Council offices, North Ness → return to Clickimin
- Who can attend: Families and friends are welcome; the march is described as peaceful
| Location | Purpose of stop |
|---|---|
| Sheltand Charitable Trust, North Road | Highlight responsibilities and seek engagement |
| Council offices, North Ness | Make visible appeal to local authorities |
The route and the institutions targeted reflect where campaigners feel decisions about community leisure provision and asset management should be addressed. The protest provides an opportunity for residents to make their views known in public while maintaining a peaceful tone.
Local context and implications
Scalloway Swimming Pool has been described by campaigners as a valued community resource. Its closure earlier this year, carried out by Shetland Recreational Trust, has prompted questions among those who used the facility for fitness, leisure and community activities. The planned march is aimed at keeping the matter in the public eye and prompting dialogue with the organisations involved.
For Lerwick residents, the demonstration is a proximate event: it will be visible around Clickimin, North Road and North Ness and may affect pedestrian movement during the afternoon. More broadly, the action underlines wider local concerns about access to recreational services across Shetland and how such services are managed and supported.
Organisers have not published a detailed programme of speeches or demands beyond the call for the pool to be reopened, but the route’s stops indicate the campaign’s focus on both charitable and civic bodies. The invitation to bring families and friends suggests the group intends to maintain a community-oriented tone rather than a confrontational one.
Lerwick residents interested in attending or seeking further information should watch local notices and community channels for any updates from the campaign group, especially if weather or other practical considerations prompt changes to timing or arrangements.
