Swimming pool temperatures have been “adjusted slightly” in Renfrewshire as the leisure operator tries to “offset” spiralling energy costs.

OneRen’s chief executive confirmed the change after being quizzed by councillors, but moved to allay concerns by saying it can only do so marginally because the organisation is required to maintain a certain level of heat.

The issue was raised at last Wednesday’s leadership board by councillor Gillian Graham, a rep for Johnstone North and surrounding villages, who said constituents had noticed the pools “seem cooler”.

She asked if it was a measure OneRen, the charitable trust responsible for culture, leisure and sport in the area, had taken to mitigate growing costs associated with the energy crisis.

READ MORE: Man in hospital after 'unprovoked' attack by gang

Dr Victoria Hollows, chief executive of OneRen, said: “The pool temperatures, we have adjusted them slightly in the same way that we’ve adjusted heating temperatures in our buildings, just to try and offset the growing energy costs we’ve been faced with but what I would say is, we are regulated.

“We can only do that to a very small degree within pools because we’re required to keep them at certain temperatures and there’s a very fine balance between maintaining the pool temperature and the ambient temperature in the pool space itself, so it’s a very, very fine line.

“It’s not very much that we can move that about, so during the summer months when it was warmer weather we were sort of tinkering with the heating to try and minimise costs, knowing that through the winter those temperatures will need to rise again.”

OneRen has five pools, which are found at Johnstone Community Sports Hub, Erskine Swimming Pool, Lagoon Leisure Centre, ON-X Linwood and Renfrew Victory Baths.

Councillor Graham thanked Dr Hollows for the update and said she could now reassure those who had contacted her that it had just been a “marginal change”.

A report, which was discussed at the board, outlined “considerable financial pressures” that OneRen is currently facing.

Income is around 75% of pre-pandemic levels, while its gas bill is currently 112% above the previous year and could rise to 156%.

The document said: “Whilst work has been undertaken by OneRen to mitigate against the impact of rising energy costs to date, this will remain a significant risk for the trust to manage going forward.”