Spending cuts are forcing leisure trust North Lanarkshire Leisure (NLL) to make some difficult choices with its leisure provision.

It is proposing to close the Iain Nicolson Recreation Centre and reduce the opening hours at three other swimming pools. It has also been proposed that the Aquatec Leisure Pool and Health Suite be converted into a soft play facility.

An NLL spokesperson said: "Like all organisations, we are facing huge financial pressures. The management fee we receive from the council may be reduced by around £2m over the next three years and we are facing increased cost pressures of £2m. These financial pressures mean that very difficult decisions will have to be made to reduce, rationalise, or in some cases cease service provision altogether."

Other cost savings include the review of overtime payments and the rationalisation of swimming teachers contracts.

In the six years since NLL has been running the facilities there has been a 96 per cent increase in customers and a 192 per cent in income, which has allowed significant investment to date. However, even this is insufficient against the backdrop of continued spending cuts.