Sports centre to test early opening demand 5/10/14
The Stornoway sports centre is open at 7am in year-
Western Isles Council agreed to trial a 7am start, one hour earlier than usual, four days a week, during a year long trial at an additional cost of £2,600 after pool hire income.
Voluntary organisation Swim Western Isles said it was best time to allow talented young swimmers to train before school.
The body will split the extra cost with the council after getting funding from sportscotland.
Councillors were keen to approve the proposal as many spoke of the island sporting talents successes such as Commonwealth Games competitor Kerry MacPhee and swim star Kara Hanlon.
They heard of a number of young swimmers who are demonstrating great ability including Kara Hanlon from Stornoway who qualified for the Commonwealth Games trials in Glasgow and only missed qualification for the Commonwealth Games team by a fraction of a second.
Scottish Swimming and High Life Highland highlighted the major impediment relating to the development of swimming relates to the provision of suitable pool time available to talented athletes.
The 7am opening will also allow the public to access both the gym and pool facilities.