Two north-east community groups fear a new multimillion pound sports facility will be made too small to accommodate their dreams of expanding.
Under the current plans for the new Inverurie Community Campus both the Garioch swimming and gymnastics clubs will lack the space they hoped they would acquire to help them grow.
The blueprints for the swimming pool currently includes space for six-lanes.
But a local campaign group – led by members of the Garioch swimming club – has argued that eight-lanes could attract national competitions and boost the towns’ economy by around £1million.
The 8 Lanes for Inverurie campaign, which has backing from Hannah Miley, was told in order to accommodate its vision it would cost around £2.5million.
And project manager for the campus, John Macleod, said that there were was no time to change the plans ahead of the March 2018 start date which was “set in stone”.
During Aberdeenshire Council’s education and childrens’ services committee meeting yesterday spokesman for the campaign group, Dave Adams, urged the council to consider expanding the plans to accommodate the two extra lanes.
He said: “Inverurie deserves a pool that is fit for the future. With eight lanes we can host six events annually and bring in more money to the town. We have been advised that Sport Scotland would be happy to give us up to £1million, but no-one has ever told us to apply formally for a grant.”
However he was told that within the timeline there was no re-design capacity as site works must begin in March next year – leaving only 12 months for the detailed design stage.
Concerns have also been raised about the size of the gymnasium which is due to be built.
In a report compiled by the local authority’s head of resources and performances, Craig Clement, it states it is unlikely the current proposals would “significantly reduce” the waiting lists to join the Garoich Amateur Gymnastics Club.
He added: “The addition of a further gymnasium could be investigated, but given the constrained nature of the site has the potential to reduce parking for the campus.”
The gymnastics club has previously been offered space in the planned Inverurie Sports DevelopmentnProject’s new sports centre, but has recently been told there is no longer room for them.
Last night the ISDP were unavailable for comment.
The pool and gymnasium will be part of the new £54million Inverurie Community Campus which will also include two gymnasiums.
Last night concerned members of the community groups said they felt let down by the council’s lack of engagement in the early stages which may have allowed them to raise their hopes sooner.
Dave Adams, from the 8 Lanes for Inverurie group, said the swimming club has a waiting list of 1,500 and added: “I’m not happy.
“Due to lack of council engagement at the early stage two years ago, we feel let down. We have been knocking at the council’s door now for two years and not understanding the formal process we think we should have been advised at an earlier stage.”
Gary Tolometti, chair of the Garioch Gymnastics Club is also said she was disappointed, adding: “We have been told that we are now no longer part of the ISDP plans, so have had to revise our plans drastically.
“At the same time, the council told me that they would make space available in the community campus. People appear to have been making decisions on our behalf.”
The gymnastics club has a waiting list of 1,300 and can see huge potential in the region. Mr Tolometti’s daughter Izzy has managed to get to a national standard without having a dedicated gym, he said: “Imagine what we could achieve with a proper gym.
“We have to take all our equipment in and out of cupboards which damages it and we don’t have a proper sprung floor. The main user of the new campus will be the academy and they will have the final say of timings.
“So we are now looking for our own facilities around Inverurie and have had to tell our parents, but it does feel like a slap in the face.”
