‘Huge disappointment’ at end of public swimming access agreement in Aviemore

The Highland Council today advises that no deal has been reached with MacDonald Aviemore Hotels and Resort to continue public access to the Resort swimming pool in Aviemore. 

As a result, the current agreement will terminate on 31 August 2018, following which access for High Life members, and for school swimming lessons, will cease.

Councillor Bill Lobban, Convenor of The Highland Council and Ward Member for Badenoch and Strathspey said:

 “I am hugely disappointed that at the 11th hour, and despite the Council understanding a deal acceptable to both parties had been reached, the Resort have walked away from a proposed agreement.  The Council has done its utmost to continue access to the pool, through months of negotiation, significant concessions on its part, and a proposal which would have provided a significant increase in income to the Resort.  I don’t believe the Council could have done any more to reach an agreement, and the local community will rightly be concerned about the loss of swimming facilities as a result.”

The existing agreement ran for a period of 3 years, and had been extended to 31 August while negotiations continued. 

The nearest alternative public swimming pool is located in Grantown on Spey, at the Craig MacLean Centre, operated by High Life Highland.  High Life Highland will be contacting local High Life Members to advise of the end of the agreement.