Moray Council: No guarantee Buckie pool will be refurbished
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No guarantees are being given that Buckie swimming pool will be refurbished.
Assurances were sought at a Moray Council meeting yesterday that improving the pool was a top priority.
However, none were forthcoming.
Sonya Warren (Buckie, SNP) said: "It is my understanding that the Buckie pool is the next to be refurbished.
"Is that still the case and do we have a time line for it?"
The pool is part of Buckie High, the only school building in Moray to be ranked as low as C (poor) for its suitability.
Jo Shirriffs, the council's head of educational resources, confirmed the swimming pool had been on the list for refurbishment.
But, she added, reviews were currently taking place into Moray's leisure facilities as well as its school buildings.
Ms Shirriffs stated that she was "not committing" until these reviews were completed next month.
The council has £300,000 in its budget for upgrading pools in Moray.
While no assurance was given yesterday for Buckie, an earlier commitment has been made of £700,000 for an all-weather 3G football pitch in Forres.
A further £400,000 has also been committed by the council towards Moray Leisure Centre in Elgin.
Cllr Warren said: "I do find that slightly concerning.
"It was agreed the Buckie pool was definitely going to be refurbished.
"Lots of young people learn to swim there.
"I really do hope the pool is considered urgently for upgrade along with Buckie High School."
Sandy Keith (Elgin North, Labour) was concerned by the uncertainty over the Buckie refurbishment when funding for the Forres pitch appeared to have been approved.
He said: "There seems to be two different answers. One for the pool that it could be but maybe no, but the 3G pitch is a definite.
"If we’re undertaking a review, how do we know that one’s in and one’s out?"
Cllr Keith was advised that the Forres project was different from the pool.
However, it was added that councillors could, if they wished, put all the money into the same pot and look again at the issue.
Updates on both the reviews into Moray's leisure facilities and school buildings are due on September 14.
Yesterday's meeting was also warned that Moray Council doesn't have enough cash to keep all its school buildings at what's called a B/B standard.
That defines a building as "satisfactory" in terms of both its condition and its suitability for teaching pupils.
A report from officers stated: "The school estate (excluding new build) continues to deteriorate.
"The level of investment that the council is able to afford is insufficient to maintain all schools to B/B standard.
"The risk of building failures, temporary closures and/or health and safety continue to be a concern."
Speaking at yesterday's meeting, cllr Keith said "We are not talking about improvements here but, rather, merely maintaining what we have in its current condition, or getting even worse.
"It is clear from the report that schools will deteriorate further – and that saddens me."
