Locals will be able to have their say on long-awaited new sports facilities in Banff at a consultation event tomorrow.
Residents are being invited to a drop-in session at the town’s academy, taking place from 4pm-6pm, at which more details of the construction work will be unveiled.
A spokesman for Aberdeenshire Council said: “The contractor, FMP Construction, will shortly begin work to create indoor and outdoor sports and community facilities at Banff Academy.
“The new centre will include community and office areas and viewing galleries for the sports hall and squash courts, as well as an outdoor terrace, car parking and landscaping.
“The sessions have been designed to let residents around Banff Academy know about the forthcoming works, likely disruption and the importance of safety around construction sites.”
New football pitches will also be created, along with a running and cycling track, upgraded tennis courts and a complete refurbishment of the school’s PE department and swimming pool.
As part of the same scheme, a new pavilion and football pitches will also be built in Macduff, with work expected to begin in October.
The proposals for new sports facilities in the two towns have been in the pipeline for years and finally broke through in March when Tesco agreed to part-fund the council’s £12.7million project.
The plans had been thrown into disarray weeks earlier when the supermarket giant – which had pledged to develop land to replace existing facilities at Canal Park as part of a bid to build a new store – pulled out of the deal.
Banff councillor John Cox, chairman of the Banff and Buchan area committee, said: “During construction, there will inevitably be a certain amount of disruption and we thank residents for their understanding in advance.
“I am pleased that the drop-in sessions have been arranged as a way of keeping residents informed about the work, and that we continue to engage with residents as the project progresses.”
Officers from the local authority will attend the session to provide answers to any questions.
A second event will run at the school on Saturday, July 25, from 11am to 1pm.