Going green - Kirkcudbright Swimming Pool gets Net Zero support
A Dumfries & Galloway community-owned swimming pool has gone green with a range of energy saving measures to help sustain its future.
With support from our Net Zero Accelerator Fund, Kirkcudbright Swimming Pool has introduced a new pool cover, additional solar panels and new filtration and treatment equipment.
These investments are part of a wider range of actions which have contributed to dramatically reduced costs, with £17,000 saved on gas bills alone in the first eight months of 2025, and electricity costs reduced by a quarter.
And its estimated our funded equipment will ultimately help the Pool save over 400,000 litres of water each year.
Kirkcudbright Swimming Pool's story
Kirkcudbright Swimming Pool is community financed, built and operated since it opened its doors in 1997, after a ten year campaign by local volunteers.
The group – Friends of Kirkcudbright Swimming Pool – managed to raise and secure £500,000 to build the Pool.
And the local community continues to significantly support the facility through a charity shop in the town that raises over £50,000 per year and an annual donation from Kirkcudbright Development Trust, alongside a grant from Dumfries & Galloway Council.
Despite these and other fundraising efforts, the volunteers who run the pool – which employs 13 full and part time staff – approached us for assistance last year due to crippling energy bills.
The region’s economic and community development agency provided guidance, advice and a grant of £93,354 to support the energy and cost saving proposals.
Kirkcudbright Swimming Pool’s proactive work has made a significant difference to the running of the Pool, which welcomes around 3,000 people each month, but it still seeks more help, with anyone keen to help out encouraged to contact admin@kbtpool.co.uk.
Scotland's Climate Week
Our support for Kirkcudbright Swimming Pool has been announced as part of Scotland’s Climate Week, which runs from 29 September to 5 October and aims to celebrate the efforts of businesses and communities to create meaningful change.
John Thomson, Kirkcudbright Swimming Pool’s Board Chair, said:
“The support from South of Scotland Enterprise has made a big difference to the running of Kirkcudbright Swimming Pool.
“Like many pools and leisure facilities across the country, we continue to face challenges but the energy saving measures have significantly reduced our bills and environmental impact.
“We still seek volunteers and we would love to hear from anyone who could spare a few hours a month to help us out."
Russel Griggs OBE, Chair of SOSE said:
“The community of Kirkcudbright have shown innovation throughout the lifespan of its swimming pool, from funding the initial build of the facility to the resourceful ways they have worked to keep it open over the last 28 years.
“That is why SOSE stepped in to provide some assistance through our Net Zero Accelerator Fund.
“Kirkcudbright Swimming Pool is a vital grassroots facility in the heart of Scotland’s Natural Capital Innovation Zone and their efforts to make it more energy efficient and sustainable is a fantastic Climate Week example of a community taking meaningful climate action.”