Campaign stepped up to save swimming in Aviemore

CAMPAIGNERS behind Save Our Swimming 2018 have said they are delighted with the show of support for their bid to reinstate affordable swimming for locals at Macdonald Aviemore Resort (MAR).

Around 50 people attended the village's RBL last night to look at ways for the community to turn up the pressure and get a deal done for High Life Highland users to access the popular facilities once more.

They have been unable to use the pool since the end of last month. In the meantime there has been an impasse in talks over funding between Highland Council and resort owners Macdonald Hotels.

The council has stressed it remains open to discussions and the hotel operator told the Strathy yesterday it intends to re-open the talks early next week.

There was a unanimous feeling at the SOS meeting that the community needs to show its support for the provision of swimming at the resort rather than wait for any resolution which may not come.

It was stressed that this must be in a positive manner with the emphasis put on how important access is to the pool rather than it becoming confrontational.

Pool users, HLH members and the wider public are being asked to meet at 5.30pm later today at the layby at the bottom of the resort's brae to highlight their concern over the loss of swimming.

A big colourful banner and 500 fliers have been produced. Signatures will be collected in the village for petitions – to present to Macdonalds at a later date – and at the resort which is currently staging the prestigious Europarc conference being attended by some 500 delegates.

A key theme of the gathering is Scotland's Year of Young People 2018, It was highlighted at the meeting this was at odds with denying local tots, children and teens access to the pool.

After the meeting, SOS 2018 coordinator Joe Kirby said: "It was a really productive meeting with lots of great ideas coming forward from those there.

"There was a clear feeling within the room that we need to raise the campaign's profile and get both parties talking again so that the community can get back to using the pool.

"We will be starting with a peaceful show of support for affordable local swimming at the resort and in the wider Aviemore from early evening and there are plenty of more suggestions which we have taken on board and will be looking to develop over the coming days and weeks.

"Our sincere hope, however, is that both parties can reach an agreement very soon: that way everyone is a winner – Macdonald Hotels, Highland Council and the community."

It is understood to renew the High Life Highland deal the hotel giant had initially in the spring asked for £200,000 in year one; £213,000 in year two and £223,000 in the final year.

Earlier this month a three-year deal agreement had been struck in principle via email exchanges only for the local authority to see that the hotel company did a U-turn.

It would have seen Highland Council pay £180,000 with index linked increases either CPI or 2.5 per cent and HLH users pay £1.50 (individual) or £3 per family per visit over the three-year period

The council has said the deal will give Macdonald Aviemore Resort approximately £220,000 per year – more than the hotel operator had been looking for at the outset.

Macdonald Hotels confirmed they intend to reopen talks next week.

A spokesman said: "We remain keen to see this situation resolved, which would be in everyone’s interests – especially those local people who are unable to enjoy use of the pool.

"However, we’ve been consistent in stressing that any compromise must be on the basis that the scheme is financially sustainable, taking into account the very significant rises in costs we have had to meet.

"Over the past two years alone, the resort has seen staff costs rise by 20 per cent to £4.6 million, a 22 per cent increase in energy costs to more than £1 million and a 55 per cent jump in business rates, which are now over £590,000 annually.

"In an attempt to overcome the impasse, we will be making contact with the council early next week to see whether we can resolve this unfortunate situation.

"But it’s clear that any reasonable, long-term solution needs to take these hard facts into account."

* More on this story in today's Strathy.