Active Moray residents can continue to make the most of their local sports facilities following a council decision to prolong a package of extended opening hours.
Since January the sports centres at Keith and Lossiemouth have remained open later at the weekends, and have welcomed 4,000 more admissions than normal as a result.
Moray Council’s policy and resources committee this week heard of the programme’s popularity and agreed to keep the scheme going, at a cost of £8,500.
The centres will remain open until 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays until the council receives a further report on the scheme’s progress.
At that time, members will decide on plans to extend the programme further.
Keith and Cullen councillor Gary Coull yesterday hailed the success of the project in boosting residents’ health.
Mr Coull said: “The results of the pilot scheme earlier this year were absolutely fantastic, and it’s great to see it’s going to continue.
“The public really have bought into it over the last six months.
“Ultimately the aim would be to make the longer opening hours a permanent fixture.”
Members of the council’s policy and resources committee were unanimous in their praise of the project.
However, they requested more information on summer use prior to making any decisions on extending hours throughout the calendar year.
Council leader Stewart Cree said: “This scheme has been enormously successful, and while we’re looking for more information on which to base future decisions, that is by no means a criticism of it.”
Prior to January the Lossiemouth and Keith centres closed at 1pm on weekends.