Aviemore pool to reopen tomorrow to High Life Highland scheme

There's no time like the present.

That’s the great message from the Macdonald Aviemore Resort who have said that the High Life Highland scheme will be reinstated from doors opening at their swimming pool tomorrow (Friday).

It follows successful high-level discussions between the hotel group and Highland Council which resulted in a breakthrough in the funding wrangle.

Local Highland High Life users have been unable to use the leisure pool since the end of August when access ended because of a funding wrangle.

But all that will change from tomorrow when the popular facility again opens to locals who are HLH members.

It comes after Macdonald Hotels chairman Donald Macdonald and deputy chairman Gordon Fraser met with the council's new chief executive Donna Manson in Aviemore on Tuesday and reached a one-year agreement to resolve the stalemate.

HLH users will not have to pay any additional charges which had been one of the options on the table as attempts were made to break the deadlock.

There is further good news with confirmation that HLH swimming lessons for children and aquafit will also resume.

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.”

Mr Fraser continued: “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.

The end of the stalemate was exclusively revealed in today’s Strathy.

After both sides walked away from talks, Badenoch MSP Kate Forbes and local MP Drew Hendry helped to get the two parties to restart efforts to find a solution.

Ms Forbes MSP said: “I am very pleased to hear that Aviemore pool will be once again open and available to High Life Highland users in Badenoch and Strathspey.

“It was deeply unfortunate that Highland Council and MacDonald Hotels could not come to an agreement but, with an intervention by Drew Hendry MP and myself, they resumed discussions.

“It’s excellent news that not only has a deal been agreed but kids and adults alike can swim locally.

“They were otherwise facing a long return trip to Grantown which was not fair, particularly on kids.”

The Badenoch MSP continued: “ I’m grateful to Donald MacDonald and Gordon Fraser and the new chief executive of Highland Council Donna Manson for getting an agreement over the line.

“Local campaigners led by Joe Kirby have made their views known loudly and clearly over the last few months and I know are now delighted with this outcome.”