Almost one-third of Scottish local authorities continue to provide sunbeds in council-owned leisure facilities, despite repeated warnings about the associated health risks from public health organisations.

A recent report by the British Medical Association claimed sunbed use increased the risk of skin cancer, eye damage and photosensitivity disorders. In the past 20 years the number of Scots with skin cancer has trebled. Latest figures from NHS Health Scotland, formerly the Health Education Board for Scotland (Hebs), reveal skin cancer is the fastest rising cancer , with more than 125 Scots diagnosed each week.

Dr Jamie Inglis, public health consultant with Health Scotland, said: “We’re disappointed that there are still 10 councils in Scotland who are still providing sunbeds in council facilities in the full knowledge that sunbeds are contributors to skin cancer. They are very clearly sending out the wrong message to people who use leisure facilities that sunbeds are associated with health.

“We did some work with Cosla [the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities] on sun beds around three years ago and issued advice to all councils that they should remove sun beds from their premises because of the balance of risk. Our official position has been that sunbeds are an important contributor to the skin cancer epidemic in Scotland and our view is that there is no safe level of use.

“The majority of councils have removed them from their premises in recognition that they were hazardous to health. Unfortunately, a minority remain who still have them , presumably for financial reasons. It would be helpful if they took the same decision as other councils.”

Last week the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) told delegates at their annual conference in Belfast that “it is wholly inappropriate for local authorities to make money from the provision of sunbeds”, and called on all councils to phase them out.

The Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS) also questioned the stance of councils that retain sunbeds. John Sleith, of the REHIS, said: “Local authorities should reconsider their position when they are offering this.”

However, both South Lanarkshire and West Lothian councils claimed it was easier to supervise sunbed use within its facilities. A spokeswoman for South Lanarkshire said: “We have no plans to close down our sunbeds. We feel we can control customer use and we are doing everything possible to inform customers of the benefits and risks of using sunbeds.”

Of the 10 councils who have retained the facility, half said they had no plans to review the situation. The remaining councils said they would continue to monitor the situation. A spokeswoman for Fife Council said: “While we currently operate under strict guidelines, we will also be discussing our position with NHS Fife.”

Midlothian and Highland councils are also monitoring their position and Moray Council have decided to phase out sunbeds once the current batch reach the end of their lifespan, although they were unable to confirm exactly when that would take place.

Clackmannanshire Council provide sunbeds in their Alloa Leisure Bowl facility. Manager Mike Mulraney said: “We are aware of the current concerns about sunbeds and the recent comments from the environmental health group. But it’s all about judgement – we allow people to smoke in our bar which is also potentially detrimental to health. At this time we have no immediate plans to take the sunbeds out, but we’re monitoring the position.”

The majority of the 20 councils who have removed the tanning devices did so for public health reasons. A spokesman for Scottish Borders Recreational Trust explained: “About three years ago the council withdrew the provision because of the health dangers. The council did their own risk assessment on whether it was a relevant thing to be providing to the public and, at that point, we felt it wasn’t.”

Despite the advice offered to local authorities by Hebs and Cosla in 2000, a spokesman for the association of local authorities said provision of sunbeds was an operational matter for individual councils to decide on. However he added: “My view would be that most councils will have acted on the advice of the BMA, which warns of the risks posed and would therefore not have sunbeds on their premises.”

Health Scotland’s Dr Inglis warned councils providing sunbeds that they continue to run the risk of litigation. He said: “Anyone providing these facilities are effectively radiating their customers with ultraviolet and contributing to that individual’s risk of developing skin cancer.”

However, the Sunbed Association dismissed calls for councils to reconsider tanning bed provision. Group secretary Kathy Banks said: “I continue to be concerned at the ongoing attack against using sunbeds. What sunbeds can offer that the natural sun cannot is the ability to achieve a tan in a controlled environment, which means avoiding over-exposure to UV. Of course, this can only be assured when the sunbed is used responsibly.”