Is it time for Aviemore to build its own pool?
An Aviemore watchdog has accused a major hotel group of holding the community to ransom and urged Highland Council to build its own swimming pool in Aviemore.
With no resolution in sight for access to the popular facility at the Macdonald Aviemore Resort, the village’s community council is calling for the local authority to take control of the situation.
Community leaders have written to the council as well as local politicians and hotel chief Donald Macdonald calling for the deadlock of the past four weeks to be broken.
But in addition, they believe after nearly a decade of access wrangles the time has now come to investigate building a public pool.
Chairman John Grierson, writing on behalf of the watchdog, states: “We are aware, according to media reports, that the problem with access lies not with anything in Aviemore but with an unresolved, unrelated issue between Highland Council and a Macdonald Aviemore Highland Resort director.
“Of course, it may be that MAHR is not interested in the community and is only interested in profit or the personal interests of a director.
“Keeping the community out completely is a backward step, will alienate the community, and is not in the interests of either the resort, the community or other business interests.
“We are keen to continue what we have always felt is a positive relationship with MAHR in other matters and have asked they stop holding the community to ransom over a completely unrelated matter and to resolve the issue in Aviemore.
“However, this has become a near annual event and we feel that now is the time that Highland Council takes a more proactive longer term look at the situation.
“To a reasonable person looking in, MAHR does not appear to want the public in their pool and are being as awkward as possible every time the contract is due for renewal. This situation is not tenable.”
The watchdog goes on to request the council investigates building a swimming pool for Aviemore.
Mr Grierson states: “We are aware that some work was done in the past but feel that now is the time for a full study to be carried out..."
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