The charity that runs Moray's biggest leisure facility was yesterday given another year's lease and its staff praised for their hard work in reviving the struggling site.
The charity running Moray's largest sports facility has been forced to appeal to the council for further aid in order to avoid future turmoil.
A £500,000 revamp of the gym at Moray's premier sports facility could help the leisure estate in the region become "more sustainable" in the future, it was claimed yesterday.
Moray Leisure Centre has thrown its weight behind the council’s drive to save swimming pools in the region.
Moray Council is being urged to commit to a major review of its leisure estate in an effort to cut costs.
Moray Leisure Centre is joining a new scheme as it attempts to boost falling visitor numbers.
The approval of a new gym in Elgin has prompted fears that attendances at Moray Leisure Centre could be driven down even further.
An investigation into the running of Moray Leisure Centre over the past 25 years has highlighted the flawed funding agreement between Moray Council and the company in charge of the centre.
Moray Council will plough £500,000 into keeping a struggling sports facility afloat despite concerns about plummeting visitor numbers.
The decision to keep an investigation into the history of management at the beleaguered Moray Leisure Centre has raised fears it may not go far enough.
Moray Council has launched an investgation into what has gone wrong at the region’s flagship leisure centre.
Moray Leisure Centre has been dismissed as a “bottomless pit” by a councillor opposed to its continued funding by the council.
Moray’s largest sports centre has been given a two-year reprieve just months after it was on the brink of closure.
The immediate future of the Moray Leisure Centre was secured today after councillors approved a recovery plan proposed by High Life Highland who have been engaged as consultants since January.
Curlers from around the world are uniting in Moray this weekend to benefit a nursery that helps children who need extra support.
Dozens of Moray swimmers have raised more than £3,000 as part of a global campaign to fight a deadly disease.
Members of a struggling Moray sports centre have funded repairs in an attempt to bring in more cash.
Struggling Moray Leisure Centre has been thrown a funding lifeline amid fears it would otherwise be closed by the end of the month.
Moray Leisure Centre is facing closure amid fears that running costs are “spiralling out of control” at a time when visitor numbers are dropping.
Moray Leisure Centre are urgently looking at ways to attract more users after numbers plummeted following the opening of a new 24-hour gym.
Afternoon closures at Moray Leisure Centre could continue for another two weeks.
Curlers from across the globe have taken to the ice in Elgin in a bid to raise a cool sum for a local charity fronted by a brave youngster.
A Moray surfing school which was controversially waylaid when the volunteer who ran classes was banned from his local pool has been nominated for a top award.
A charity volunteer who was banned from Moray Leisure Centre for allegedly breaching health and safety rules has been left dismayed after an appeal into the sanction was quashed.
A disability group embroiled in a row with Moray Leisure Centre is celebrating receiving a top local sports award.
A Moray surfing instructor barred from entering his local pool is "beyond frustrated" that mounting efforts to repeal his contentious ban have yielded no response from officials yet.
Crowds of protestors gathered outside Moray Leisure Centre to press venue managers into overturning an unpopular ban on a charity volunteer. Kevin Anderson has been barred from the Elgin facility for three months for an alleged infraction of health and safety rules while teaching autistic children surfing skills. The ban has forced charity leaders into postponing winter lessons, and has left scores of disabled children distraught. Pressure has mounted on centre management to reverse the contentious edict ever since, and yesterday afternoon throngs of supporters congregated outside the building to voice their concerns. Campaigners waved placards emblazoned with slogans such as "this is unfair" and "don't punish our kids", and cries of "bring Kevin back!" rang out. During the rally, protestors handed out flyers to passing members of the public alerting them of the situation. The leaflets accused Moray Leisure Centre top brass of "abusing their powers of authority", and emphasised the "devastating" effect the ban has had on autistic youngsters. Mr Anderson, who has extensive lifeguard training and worked at the centre for five years, said he was "amazed" by the show of support. He said: "It makes me feel better to know we have such support, even people I helped teach swim years ago have reached out since the ban. "If Moray Leisure Centre had agreed to meet us then the protest may not have been necessary, and these kids won't have to miss out on lessons." Forres mum Heather Jarman said the surfing sessions were a lifeline for her 11-year-old daughter Kimberly. Mrs Jarman said: "Kimberly can't really go to activities like the Brownies, as sometimes instructors with groups like that don't really understand autistic children. "But Kevin has taken time to understand what to do with them, and Kimberly really loved it. "This is the only thing she has except for going to school, and it was really helping her social skills." Fellow mum Pauline McWalker, also from Forres, attended the rally with nine-year-old daughter Amy. She added: "It's very upsetting for us that this ban remains in place. "We were there the night management decided to take that action, and no-one was ever in any danger." The ruling was made following a lesson in which Mr Anderson brought an autistic boy into waters beyond the pool's halfway point. He was cautioned to restrict lessons to shallow waters and maintains he complied with the request. But, two weeks later Mr Anderson received a letter barring him from the venue. Chairman of the Moray branch of the National Autistic Society, Glyn Morris, helped develop the surf school with Mr Anderson and has been a staunch supporter during his recent tribulations. Mr Morris said yesterday's demonstration was undertaken only as a last resort when venue management refused to respond to requests for a meeting. He said: "We have tried to engage with management at every opportunity and it has been rejected. "The ban itself, and the fact that there isn't an appeals process in place, are ridiculous." Earlier this week the director of the National Autistic Society for Scotland, Jenny Paterson, implored centre bosses to rescind the ban. Mrs Paterson said: "This is a huge blow for families and a distressing break from routine for children we support in Moray." Moray Leisure Centre manager Steve Ash was not at the venue yesterday and staff said no-one was able to comment on the protest in his absence. But despite recent remonstrations, Mr Ash has remained adamant that the ban would stay in place. He maintains the decision was made in the best interests of health and safety, and says the centre does not wish to prevent the autistic youngsters from enjoying its pool.
A leading Scottish disability charity has urged Moray Leisure Centre to overturn a ban on one of its volunteers.
A surfing hero has been banned from his local swimming pool amid claims he breached health and safety rules while teaching disabled children.
Elgin ice rink users are rejoicing after learning that long-awaited refurbishments will take place over the winter.
Budding swimming stars say they have been left high and dry by plans for a multimillion-pound sports centre - which do not include a pool.
A Paralympic curling hero has been banned from an ice rink he campaigned to save after a fracas with his medal-winning teammate.