Extra £1.1 million agreed for Bucksburn Swimming Pool upgrades

The cost of reopening the facility has now doubled.

Author: Vanessa Walker Published 12th Sep 2024

An additional £1.1million has been put towards the reopening of Bucksburn Swimming Pool - taking the total to £2.1million.

A recent survey of the building found significant deterioration to its interior fabric.

The pool has lain empty since its closure in May last year as a result of Aberdeen City Council's budget cuts.

A huge campaign caused councillors to U-turn on its decision to shut the popular leisure centre and £1million was allocated to recommission the facility.

However, documents which went before the finance and resource committee on Thursday stated additional funding would be required "for the full project scope to be delivered".

Council officers said in the report: "The work has identified the internal fabric of the building has deteriorated significantly, since Sport Aberdeen closed that facility.

"To bring the facility back into use, and ensure it is an asset within the community for years to come, the recommendation is to upgrade the condition before re-opening.

"To deliver the current recommended proposal it is estimated that £1.1m will need to be vired from the contingency budget in FY 25/26."

The committee agreed that the extra cash to bring the pool back into use will be taken from from next year's budget.

Councillor Alex McLellan, Convener of the Finance and Resource Committee, said: “Aberdeen City Council is committed to carrying out works to upgrade the facility before re-opening the Bucksburn Swimming Pool, so additional resource has been allocated to the project.

“We are committed to seeing the Bucksburn Swimming Pool re-open, and the upgrade works will ensure it is a real asset for the community for years to come."

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