A care worker has heralded a new north-east medical centre as a huge boost for her community’s older population.
Joiners and plumbers are putting the finishing touches to the new centre at Crimond following a massive fundraising drive to replace the village’s existing facilities which are run out of a cabin at Logie Avenue East.
Backed by Peterhead-firm Score Group plc, the site will also feature a cafe and fitness suite, as well as a pharmacy.
The new and improved £1.5million centre was originally due to open in time for Christmas.
However, following some “minor delays” it will now open in the spring.
Care worker Ella Cowan, who has worked at Crimond Care Home for 21 years, said the centre will be a welcome addition to the entire village, and will give their residents somewhere new and exciting to visit.
“It will be a boost because we’ve only got two shops here,” she said.
“We could take some of the residents along for a change of scenery. I bring a lot of stuff in for them, but there’s not a lot of them able to travel long distances.
“It will be something different for them.”
The new Crimond Medical Centre will service St Fergus, Rathen, Crimond, Lonmay, St Combs, Inverallochy and Cairnbulg.
Conrad Ritchie, a trustee of the Crimond Charitable Trust and also managing director of Score, said the construction of the site was nearing completion.
“There has been some minor delays with the supply of utilities which is out with our control, but nothing that is really hindering the progress,” he said.
“The interior of the building is in the final stages of completion. We had hoped to be open and operational for Christmas but that won’t be the case.
“It looks as though the first phase of the building will be ready for occupation in late spring 2016.”