Westdyke Leisure Centre at high risk of closure if funds not raised
The Aberdeenshire facility has set up an urgent GoFundMe campaign
Last updated 11th Sep 2023
The popular Aberdeenshire leisure centre is in a race to raise £40,000 to ensure its future after being hit with a cash crisis.
A GoFundMe has been set up to bring in money as well as staff calling on the public to make as much use of the facility as possible.
Westdyke Leisure Centre has been a vital member of the community for 40 years and offers a range of activities to a large number of locals.
Shona Wright is the centre manager and explains how essential it is to different groups.
She said: "Mums with young babies use it to the elderly with rehab exercise classes and everybody in between really.
"It has been here for a long time.
"There are not other facilities, big halls or things in the area that provide the same thing we do."
Aberdeenshire Council reportedly withdrew funding from the building and rejected energy saving strategies.
This, alongside the cost-of-living crisis, has created a cash crisis leaving the leisure centre at risk of closure.
"Covid hitting, rising electricity costs and the council pulling our funding all combined to put us at risk," Shona added.
"We used to get an annual core grant that helped us because we are non-profit and want to provide a service at a decent price people can afford.
"When we asked the council for LED lighting in the gym hall it has just been rejected because they said our finances aren't good.
"How can we cut our monthly cost on energy if they're not willing to put anything into their own building?"
Aberdeenshire Council has been approached for a comment.