Aviemore's beloved 'Penguin Pool' set for facelift
Community leaders have turned the pressure up on Highland Council to restore a popular water attraction in the centre of Aviemore.
It had appeared that the local authority was going to turn the tap off on funding for the landscaped water feature at the Dell of Spey in a bid to save money.
However, local Highland councillors and Cairngorms National Park Authority board members have opposed the move, and believe that victory is now in sight.
The waterfall feature on what is known locally as the Butcher’s Burn has been out of operation for more than six months.
The local authority had been keen to scrap it and save up to £6,000 per year in the process.
But community leaders rejected the move to permanently remove the centrepiece of the attraction affectionately called the Penguin Pool by locals.
Badenoch and Strathspey Highland councillor Bill Lobban (SNP) said: "Highland Council’s revised proposals for the Dell of Spey should see the water feature returned to its original glory.
"Despite looking rather neglected these days, it can be quickly revived to once more become a focal point for locals and tourists alike.
"Aviemore contributes massively to the whole economy of Badenoch and Strathspey and Willie McKenna (CNPA board member) and I have been pushing both the council and the national park authority to appreciate that fact.
"There have been substantial improvements in the look of the place in recent years and reinstating the waterfall is just another small step along the process along with the demolition of the derelict BP station."
More on this story in today's Strathy
