THE MAN BEHIND a ban on a special needs swimming instructor is insisting that he will not change his mind despite an intense public campaign.
Kevin Anderson received a three-month ban from the pool at the Moray Leisure Centre in Elgin where he was teaching autistic children as part of a scheme he runs with the National Autistic Society Scotland.
Mr Anderson’s ban came after he was accused of flouting local health and safety rules in the pool, although he and his supporters insist that when advised of the rules he immediately complied.
Campaigners on behalf of Mr Anderson included parents of the children he trains – but all have so far been ignored by centre manager Steve Ash, who today has told a local newspaper that he has no intention of changing his position.
Mr Ash said: “The main focus for the leisure centre is purely and simply to safeguard the Moray community. Kevin has worked for us as a pool lifeguard, but when someone is no longer a member of staff they are treated like any other member of the public.
“Quite simply, having been requested not to go to a specific area he made it quite clear he was going to go there. We have to enforce rules on anyone in this situation.”
Mr Anderson hit back at the ban and the fact that there was not right of appeal against what many have described as “draconian” management of the Moray Council backed facility.
He said: “To teach deep water safety, you have to be in deep water. I had all the safety measures in place and I had it risk assessed – we are going to continue to battle against this ban.”