City comes last in mainland sports spending race

SPORT spending in Edinburgh is the lowest per head out of all of Scotland's mainland local authorities.

The Capital spent just £33.10 per person on sports facilities, parks and open spaces last year compared with £100 per person in Glasgow.

A report by Audit Scotland said Edinburgh was one of four councils which had spent less on sport than envisaged by central government in its grant calculations.

The average council expenditure on sport across the country was £56 per person.

But Audit Scotland said it was not possible to say whether higher expenditure meant better quality or higher customer satisfaction.

Sports Minister Stewart Maxwell said: "It is incumbent upon us all, national and local government, to offer more choices and more chances for people to take part in sport across Scotland, underpinned by facilities that are fit for purpose."

City recreation convener Deidre Brock said: "Our first budget as an administration included more than £30 million for the Royal Commonwealth Pool, Meadowbank, Glenogle baths, and parks, pitches and pavilions."