Macdonald Hotels and The Highland Council Reach Agreement on High Life Access

Macdonald Hotels and The Highland Council Reach Agreement on High Life Access

Local people in Aviemore will once again have access to the leisure facilities at the Macdonald Aviemore Resort following “extremely positive and constructive” high-level discussions between the hotel group and The Highland Council.

The Highland Council’s new Chief Executive Donna Manson met with Macdonald Hotels Chairman Donald Macdonald and Deputy Chairman Gordon Fraser in Aviemore on Tuesday and reached a one-year agreement to resolve the weeks-long stalemate.

The agreed proposal means local High Life Highland members will be able to access the swimming pool and other leisure facilities at the Aviemore Resort without the requirement for any additional fee.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Fraser said: “We’re extremely encouraged by the positive and constructive approach taken by Donna Manson and her team and are very happy that we have reached an agreement which will see the local High Life Highland members enjoying the facilities at Aviemore Resort very soon.

“We understand that local authorities throughout the country are facing financial pressures and that there is a clear responsibility to spend tax-payers’ money wisely. We were also encouraged by the recognition of our own position that we have had to swallow a wide range of very significant cost increases in rates, energy bills and staffing costs over the past 12 months.”

Councillor Bill Lobban, Convenor of The Highland Council and Chair of the Badenoch and Strathspey Committee, said: “I am delighted that a sensible agreement has been reached. This new deal is great news for Highland Council, High Life Highland and Macdonald Aviemore Resort but most importantly its fantastic news for the residents of Badenoch & Strathspey. The swimming pool is a well-used, important attraction and I would like to congratulate the staff from both sides who have worked really hard behind the scenes to get this result and more especially members of the local community who made sure that their voice was heard in the process. Well done to all!”

Mr Fraser added: “It’s clear that both we and the Council were very keen to welcome back local people and reach a clear and swift resolution to what has been an unfortunate situation for everyone concerned, and particularly for the many local High Life Highland members.

“For our part, we are very keen to have our local guests back through the doors, and I know that members of the local community will be happy that this matter has been resolved.”

The new agreement will allow time for further consultation on public access to the leisure facilities in future years.

 

 

 

 

 

22 Nov 2018