The doors are still open for plans to rejuvenate one of Aberdeen’s most beloved landmarks – despite it being up for sale.
The B-listed Bon Accord Baths, on Justice Mill Lane, was closed by Aberdeen City Council in 2008 and went on the open market earlier this year.
However, campaigners have vowed to continue their battle to save the art deco swimming pool.
And yesterday, Torry and Ferryhill councillor Alan Donnelly said the local authority would still consider any business plan brought forward by passionate local groups hoping to restore it to its former glory.
Last week, spokesman for the Save the Bon Accord Baths group, Craig Adams, said they had been forced into a “catch-22” situation by the council.
He said the organisation was asked to set up a charity before coming up with a plan to save the site.
However the group were unable to form a charity until they got a lease, as set down in charity regulator’s rules.
But yesterday Mr Donnelly said: “The doors haven’t closed on them, we’re not forcing them into a corner. He can approach the selling agent, who goes to our asset management team and says ‘this is the preferred bid’.
“They need to draft up something and get it to the selling agent and the asset management (team) checks if it is deliverable.
“The doors are open. Our asset team have to see that they can put together a doable project. Officers have not closed the door on any friends of Bon Accord Baths.
“But we have a lot of swimming pools and they cost a lot of money to run. The Olympic Pool in Linksfield took away the case for keeping the Bon Accord Baths going.”
He added the council had not been approached since last May by the group.
The baths are on the market with a rateable value of £140,000 per year.
The Save the Bon Accord Baths group has now formed Bon Accord Heritage, which is dedicated to getting the baths re-opened and to the preservation of other local landmarks.
John Law, head of facilities management for the group, said they were seeking a “positive, constructive relationship” with both councillors and local authority officers.