Councils are left on the hook for unprofitable projects

Councils have to bail out the losses racked up by public pools and leisure centres, says Conor Ryan, Investigative Correspondent.

Lavish designs and costly heating bills have left the ambitious programme to deliver new swimming pools across the country draining local authority resources.

In many areas, limited companies set up to run new pools on behalf of the councils have had questions asked about their ability to trade as a going concern.