Grand plans for Aviemore – with Glenmore's input?
Aviemore and Glenmore Community Trust are thinking big. They are not just planning a "stunning statement" of a centre catering for "all tastes and activities"– once it's up and running they plan to maintain it with the takings from the Glenmore campsite.
Visitors to Monday's consultation at the British Legion Clubrooms were left in no doubt that the trust is not giving up on its bid to run the camp – and more.
"Further to Forestry and Land Scotland's decision to not include the community in the final bid for Glenmore campsite and the huge disappointment and loss to the community in not getting it, we are aiming towards an asset transfer for the area," confirmed Mike Dearman on the trust's behalf.
"That will give the community ownership of the area – including the beach and surrounding area."
He told the Strathy: "We had a successful meeting with Glenmore community and Glenmore businesses with regards to pursuing ownership and it was agreed we should move forward with this. It was agreed that we need more local control and decisive action for the area.
"The next step is to do a wider community survey to see if community want ownership, then we will formulate plans for an asset transfer."
A spokesperson for Forestry and Land Scotland said on Monday: “A growing number of local communities and communities of interest are seeing and pursuing opportunities through our Community Asset Transfer Scheme.
“We are happy to offer impartial guidance and advice but do not comment on individual applications, which are ultimately assessed by an independent panel.”
There was no clear indication of cost of Dalfaber Community Park, although early estimates once hinted at well over a million, and nobody was naming potential funding sources as yet. The trust's consultation team are stressing they won't budget or fine-detail any plans until long after they have ascertained precisely what the public are after.
"Although hopefully that won't be too long," said fellow director Mike Gale. "Ideally we're looking at having something to go for by September this year."
The turnout clearly pleased the team, with visitors poring over drawings and offering plenty of their own views – in writing. They were asked 'Do you feel that any of the following ideas would be suitable for the future use of the land at Dalfaber Drive?'
Those included community park/gardens, community hub, village hall, cafe, wheel sports park, performance space, community cinema and retail/commercial space.
All the forms received are yet to be collated by trust members and their Aviemore Community Enterprise partners, but if team member Lee Bissett has her way the result will be something stunning.
"We need to make a statement," she said. "Whatever building goes up on that corner will need to seriously announce itself, to stand launch new era for the village.
"It's ridiculous that we don't have a village hall here, but this is not about simply building a replacement for the one we lost. We need something which reflects the astonishing place we all live in.
"We need art space, small meeting places and rooms reflecting the complexity of this community, all its talents and interests. It's all very exciting, but we so need to get this right."
A local design team has been led by Stuart MacKellar, of LDN Architects, in developing the proposals which remain an at the conceptual stage. A £10,000 funding bid was approved from Highland Council’s ward place based fund to assist with architect’s plans and visuals.
