Plans to improve community and sports facilities in Banff and Macduff have been approved by Aberdeenshire Council.

The go ahead for the two projects will see a new sports and community centre constructed at Myrus Recreation Park in Macduff, and a new state-of-the-art complex to be built at Banff Academy.

At Macduff, work will involve installing floodlighting, as well as creating associated car and bus parking. The demolition of the existing pavilion and a relocation of the current play areas will also be carried out. The new pavilion would be substantially larger than the one originally proposed and includes a three-court sports hall, changing rooms, community rooms and a large internal area which would be used as a community facility. The two pitches currently on site would be improved, with one becoming a full-sized, all-weather football pitch with floodlights; while two of the current play areas will be relocated. The remaining play area will be improved.


The Banff project would see the existing swimming pool building extended, with sections of the adjacent grounds redeveloped to provide both indoor and outdoor sports and community facilities, with the associated car parking and landscaping. The extension to the pool building includes a four-court sports hall, two squash courts, a fitness suite, dance studio, community room, café and changing and storage facilities. Community and office areas will be located on the first floor of the building, while viewing galleries for the sports hall and squash courts will be created, as well as an outdoor terrace.

In addition, a single-storey pavilion will be built next to the all-weather track and the pitches, incorporating changing and storage facilities, with a small kitchen and function room. A covered seating area will also be constructed for 100 spectators and a cycle track will run around the sports pitch and running track area. The current tennis courts are set to be improved to provide three floodlit tennis courts and a practice area.

While Aberdeenshire Council granted permission for both projects to continue, they are subject to conditions. One of these is that the limiting of noise levels at both sites is to be clarified before any work can start.

(JP/CD)