The local authority stresses Sabbath observance is not the reason why the decision went against seven day opening.
In October, councillors voted 19-
A staff survey showed not enough personnel are willing to work.
So far, no attempt to reconsider the issue at Wednesday’s council meeting appears to have been made by any of nine councillors in favour.
The next opportunity to revisit the debate will not be until March.
Even then a motion is required to suspend council standing orders to overturn what was recently agreed as official policy.
A council spokesman said the issue not to proceed with a trial Sunday opening is a “democratic decision by the local authority based on an objective assessment of the likely costs and the employment and operational issues involved – not just purely financial issues.”
He highlighted: “It is a local matter which should be determined locally by elected councillors who are best placed to assess the issues and the local demand for a service.
“It should be noted that the Lewis Sports Centre already has generous opening hours – amongst the longest in the north of Scotland.”
He added: “The Secular Society is incorrect in its assumption and assertion that the sports centre is not open on a Sunday for Sabbatarian reasons.”
Fish said it looks forward to the council accepting the money they have raised in the “same manner that the partial funding from the local swim club was accepted for an early morning trial.”
Spokesperson Pauline Matterson said they hope for the same level of community engagement shown to the swim club and “look forward to working with the council on moving forward with the provision of this much in demand service.”
She said “relief staff and new staff could be utilised for the additional hours and the issue of staffing had yet to be thoroughly considered (by the council). Fish see no reason why staffing should prohibit Sunday opening.”
In a recent joint statement with Fish, the NSS said it got involved as “Sabbatarians have imposed their dogma on islanders for long enough.”
It claimed the council was putting up a “smokescreen” and involved in “religious bullying and intolerance” as Sabbatarian councillors try to maintain an “iron grip in 'their' patch, in pursuit of their own sectarian interests.”
Lewis Sports Centre stays closed on Sundays despite funding offer
13 December 2016
The council has no plans to open the Lewis Sports Centre on Sundays despite the prospect of a £11,000 donation to underwrite the running costs.
Campaign group, Families into Sport for Health (Fish), used an internet funding appeal to raise the money the comhairle said it could not afford a year long trial run.
Staffing and operating issues were other obstacles.
Fish thanked the National Secular Society (NSS) for launching a publicity campaign and donating £1,500 to reach the target figure before the deadline.
But the comhairle took a swipe at what it sees as the London-