Moray SNP News

SNP COUNCILLORS BACK LEISURE CENTRE RECOVERY PLAN

SNP Councillors have backed a recovery plan for Moray Leisure Centre at a Special Meeting of Moray Council.

Despite opposition from some Tory and Independent Councillors to Option 4, which SNP Councillors consider to be the only viable option that would keep the centre open, the Option was backed by 16 votes to 4.

SNP Councillors Aaron McLean and Dave Bremner are both members of the cross-party Lesiure Review Group on Moray Council, which recommended the option that was agreed.

Cllr Bremner, who seconded the proposal for Option 4 at the Council meeting, said after the meeting:

“It is well known from local news reports that Moray Leisure Centre has been going through a difficult period and it has been a real challenge for both the Leisure Centre and the Council to find the best way forward.

“This is a hugely important facility that provides gym facilities, a swimming pool, ice rink and a range of exercise classes that are used by many thousands of people from across Moray and beyond.

“If it were to close that would be hugely damaging for Moray and would put massive pressure on other leisure facilities across Moray that are already very busy themselves.

“It was vital that we find a positive way forward and while there is still a lot of work to be done by the Leisure Centre to deliver their recovery plan, hopefully this decision by the Council will provide the level of certainty for the future that is needed to get the centre into the best possible health.

Cllr Aaron McLean said:

“This is a Leisure Centre that is being used by some very high performing athletes, as well as catering for the day-to-day fitness needs of people from across Moray. Many children learn to swim in the centre and the overall usage of the centre runs into tens of thousands of visits. To throw that away would be crazy but that is what four Tories and Independents tried to do today.

“High Life Highland have given invaluable support to the Moray Leisure Board and Management in recent months to put in place a recovery plan and I am very pleased that we have got an option agreed that will be the basis and support for a 2 year recovery period.

“I am especially pleased that the hugely successful Fit Life scheme is to be rolled out to Moray Leisure Centre. The SNP pushed very hard to get an affordable fitness subscription scheme in place and getting Moray Leisure involved in that will be a huge benefit to the centre, a huge benefit to the Council and, most importantly, a huge benefit to the people of Moray.

“With continued hard work and commitment from both the Leisure Centre’s board and from the Council, the facility should be available for the Moray public for many years to come.”