* Pressure for a relaxation of lottery rules follows acceptance that Scotland is nowhere near achieving the facilities to match the ambitious aims of Sport 21, the sports council’s planning vision for the next century.
Authorities may want to open up pools and halls in schools but simply cannot afford to pay the extra janitorial, heating, lighting and cleaning costs.
Ian Welsh, leader of South Ayrshire and Labour’s Scottish parliament spokesman on sport, told the sports council’s seminar at Coltness High, Wishaw, last week that schools in his authority were virtually closed out of hours because of budget concerns.
The sports council’s solution could open up halls around the country if it gets the go-ahead from the New Opportunities Programme bosses in London.