An Aberdeen leisure-facility boss has warned the city's swimming pools could face the axe due to soaring energy costs.
Alistair Robertson, managing director of Sport Aberdeen, says the combined annual energy bill could more than double from £800,000 to £1.8million.
And, he is warning that there is a "real risk" the plug could be pulled on swimming pools to help make ends meet.
Sport Aberdeen runs 20 facilities across the city, including six swimming pools.
Mr Robertson told the Press and Journal that pools could be first for the chop due to their high running costs.
He explained: "We face an estimated increase across our network of £1million.
Stand still
"Just to stand still, the company has to find a way of paying those bills.
"Without support, there is a very real risk that a significant part of the offer in Aberdeen may have to close."
The chancellor said last week that the UK Government's energy-bill support scheme will be extended in April. Jeremy Hunt added that details will be released "very shortly", though he warned that the scheme will become more targeted - meaning it will likely not be available for everyone.
Many businesses and organisations are now fearing that their support will end in April.
As well as worrying for the future of his own organisation, Mr Robertson is battling to save scores of swimming pools, gyms and theatres from being lost for good in his role as the vice-chairman of the Community Leisure UK body.
He says those in charge of such venues have all been left "walking a financial tightrope" as energy costs rocket.
Financial risk
It's thought 80% of charitable organisations like Sport Aberdeen are "at financial risk".
In a letter to the chancellor, shared with the P&J, Mr Robertson explains the risky situation so many find themselves in.
He said: "Any mis-step could tip them into financial crisis, to the detriment of the physical and mental wellbeing of those who rely on them as well as on the economies of the areas they serve.
"Collectively, this could leave us with a huge hole in national life.
"Just over 80% of charitable leisure and cultural trusts in England, Scotland and Wales have told us they are at financial risk - with a picture ranging from those who describe themselves as being in crisis now to those who can see their crisis point on the horizon."
Mr Robertson said that, even with the current energy-bill relief scheme, costs are exponentially higher than last year and unsustainable going forward.
Government interventions
He added: "Without government interventions, leisure and culture facilities are going to close.
"Swimming pools, with their high energy usage, are at particular risk."