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Fresh hope for Bucksburn Swimming Pool as plans lodged amid pledge to pay for repairs

The beloved facility was left in an "incredibly poor condition" and in need of crucial refurbishment.

Bucksburn Swimming Pool
Bucksburn Swimming Pool could welcome visitors again next year. Image: Darrell Benns/DC Thomson

Plans to begin the £2 million upgrade of Bucksburn Swimming Pool have been lodged as the council pledges to get it back up and running.

The Kepplehills Road venue closed last April following harsh budget cuts that saw funding to operator Sport Aberdeen being slashed.

But, thanks to a huge community campaign and a legal challenge threat, the council made a drastic U-turn months later.

Now a year and a half on from the plug being pulled, the local authority has finally taken a step towards opening the doors once again.

A sign that used to say "save our poll" that has since been modified to say "We saved our pool" outside Bucksburn Swimming Pool
Bucksburn Swimming Pool is now boarded up and fenced off. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

It came as councillors discussed the latest Sport Aberdeen annual report.

They were informed that the plan to reopen Bucksburn Swimming Pool was moving ahead as funding for the project had been approved.

Will anything change at Bucksburn Swimming Pool?

The planning documents outline a number of upgrades that will be carried out at the pool including a plant room extension and changes to the main entrance.

Bucksburn Swimming Pool plans
This image shows the proposed changes to Bucksburn Swimming Pool. Image: Aberdeen City Council

Meanwhile, a rooflight will be added to the ceiling and the southern side of the roof will benefit from a new covering.

Inside, the layout of the facility will remain largely unchanged however the disabled toilet will be extended.

‘Lack of investment’ blamed for Bucksburn pool closure

The Bucksburn facility was a big talking point at the finance meeting.

Conservative councillor Richard Brooks asked for assurance that the council would reopen it as he didn’t want residents to “lose faith” in the process.

Labour councillor M. Tauqeer Malik.
Labour councillor M. Tauqeer Malik. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

Meanwhile, Labour councillor M. Tauqeer Malik urged the council to press ahead with the repair work as soon as possible as he blasted his SNP and Lib Dem rivals for ever forcing it to close.

Committee convener Alex McLellan slammed the previous Labour administration and claimed a “lack of investment” over many years was to blame.

He said: “The facility was left in an incredibly poor condition, the plant was in need of replacing and we are doing that.”


Are you looking forward to Bucksburn Swimming Pool opening again? Let us know in our comments section below


He went on to explain that the repair work was so significant it would not be possible to carry out while the pool was still open.

When will the pool reopen again?

Mr McLellan revealed that the contract for the refurbishment work hasn’t been signed yet so it is “impossible” to give a timeframe for the project.

£2 million investment can’t just be carried out next week, it’s obviously not going to be open by the end of this year,” he explained.

SNP councillor Alex McLellan.
SNP councillor Alex McLellan. Image: Kath Flannery/DC Thomson

But, he is hopeful the works will be completed and the doors finally reopened next year.

“It’s no secret we are investing in it and we will see it recommissioned,” he stated.

The Beach Leisure Centre
The Beach Leisure Centre is expected to be demolished by next summer. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

Mr McLellan also claimed that the now boarded up Beach Leisure Centre met a similar fate due to the previous administration.

The committee was told that demolition of the venue and its much-loved flumes was currently ongoing with a final knock down date earmarked for June 2025.


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