04/10/2026
While there are three council swimming pools in the Southside (four if you include the Gorbals just south of the river), they are clustered around the south and south-western edges of the area, in Bellahouston, Pollok and Castlemilk – leaving some people in areas like Govanhill a bus journey or drive away from their nearest swim.
This might have been less of an issue in 2000, but rising transport costs since then mean it can now be a considerable investment to get a whole family to a swimming pool on a regular basis.
In part three of this three-part article, we explore the closure of these spaces, asking who is most affected when affordable swimming facilities are closed and how this changes who gets to swim and who is left behind.
In part three of this three-part article we we explore the closure of these spaces, asking who is most affected when affordable swimming facilities are closed and how this changes who gets to swim and who is left behind.