Council bosses have blasted “despicable” vandals who forced the closure of the Dollan Aqua Centre.
Late-night crooks targeted the East Kilbride institution on Friday, trashing the reception area and smashing a hole in a reinforced viewing window.
That allowed hundreds of gallons of water from the Olympic-sized pool to rip through the building, destroying areas of it and causing mass disruption.
Hundreds of hours of classes have now had to be cancelled and moved because of the mindless attack, with council chiefs saying thousands of people have been affected.
Michael McGlynn, executive director of community and enterprise for South Lanarkshire Council, was left disgusted at the raiders.
He told the East Kilbride News: “This was a despicable attack on a much-loved and well-used East Kilbride institution.
“Unfortunately, the pool itself will be out of action for some time and thousands of local residents will be affected by this act of vandalism.
“Classes and planned activities have had to be cancelled or relocated for 1400 people – in addition, there are thousands of others who would have dropped into the Dollan for a swim during the summer, but now will be disappointed.
"Staff at SLLC are doing everything they can to make rearrangements and our other pools are open elsewhere in South Lanarkshire.”
Members of the public arriving to use the centre on Saturday morning were turned away, with a police cordon in place throughout much of the day. That allowed forensic police officers to carry out their investigations.
Now cops are hunting for the “three male youths” they believe to be responsible for flooding the East Kilbride landmark, telling the East Kilbride News they “caused extensive damage”.
Detective Sergeant Martin McKendrick said: “Our enquiries are still at an early stage and we are gathering CCTV footage from in and around the area to find out more information on the three men responsible for this incident.
“The three male youths were wearing dark coloured clothing and at this stage.
“ I would like to appeal to anyone who saw anything suspicious in and around this area early this morning, or who has any information on who is responsible to contact police immediately.”
Officers were called around 12.50am in the early hours of Saturday morning after a break-in at the Brouster Hill venue was reported.
Police and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service were both called because of the extensive damage caused by the youths. Having managed to force entry to the leisure facility by smashing an external window, the raiders somehow smashed a hole in the reinforced glass of the viewing window.
The glass – which holds back thousands of gallons of pool water – was destroyed. SLLC say it will take a number of weeks to source and fit a specialist replacement.
Mr McGlynn thanked all SLLC and council staff who turned out in the early hours of Saturday morning after the attack, as well as the emergency services.
Monica Lennon MSP blasted the “mindless act” saying it has stopped hundreds of families from taking “full advantage of the Dollan’s facilities during the school holidays”.
She said: “East Kilbride is a strong and caring community and this selfish act is not representative of young people in the town. Staff at the Dollan deserve a special mention for their efforts to minimise disruption to the public.”
Local councillor Joe Fagan said he was making enquiries on behalf of constituents who use the Dollan to establish how this happened and when services can return to some kind of normality.
Much of the centre is now open for regular use. However, the pool area remains out of commission.
SLLC provided an update to ‘group swimming lesson’ customers on Monday evening, sending an email to advise customers that all memberships would be frozen until the matter is resolved.
Anyone with any information on the incident is asked to call Police Scotland on 101. Information can be left anonymously with Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
