FORRES SWIMMING POOL is to set to be the spearhead in a refurbishment programme of all four Moray Council owned leisure facilities.
The pool and fitness centre in the town will receive an £800,000 upgrade on a site that is using equipment that is believed to be as much as 30 years old.
A new boiler and air handling unit will also be installed with upgrades carried out to the power and lighting in the building, while there is also to be a replacement filtration system, fire alarm and security system.
The work is part of a programme that will also see the facilities in Buckie, Lossiemouth and Aberlour being upgraded over the next five years. However, a downside for users of the Forres facility is that the pool will be closed for around 20 weeks from when work is scheduled to begin in April.
While the pool is closed the on-site hydrotherapy facility will remain open along with the fitness suite and changing rooms – although no shower facility will be available during the work.
A Trustee at the hydrotherapy pool, Ken Smith, said he was delighted that they would be able to continue operations throughout the work. He added: “We are anxious that people know we are staying open for the entire five months.
“This provides an opportunity for people who maybe have not experienced hydrotherapy before to get an induction and give it a try.”
The work on Moray Council’s facilities comes after an extensive review and public consultation was held last year.