Banchory Sports Village to kick off fundraising efforts

Organisations in Deeside have been asked to come up with fundraising ideas to get plans for Banchory Sports Village kicked off.

The project already has land secured at Hill of Banchory, and work will begin this time next year with the remaining £700,000 being raised by the community.

Two pledges totalling £320,000 have already been made by local businesspeople.

Trustees of the Sports Village have challenged local groups and schools to come up with ideas for fundraising activities to help make the project a reality.

Plans for the Sports Village include a 25m six-lane swimming pool, a four-court sports hall and a fitness suite.

It is estimated the total bill will reach £7.8 million, the majority of which will be provided by Aberdeenshire Council after they voted to give the project the go-ahead.

Fundraising chair James Knowles collects a £500 donation from Banchory Community Council’s Rebecca Glansbeek. 

Karen Clark, councillor for Banchory and Mid-Deeside, said: “It's been a chequered history, because we thought it would be difficult to attain because budgets are pretty tight within the council.

“But the local councillors fought incredibly hard to get it, and it was a cross-party project in the end because we needed everybody in the council to approve it.”

She added: “I have to say, we've done well and I'm proud of our own efforts.”

Her fellow councillor, Linda Clark, says the Sports Village needs to be accessible to all upon completion.

She said: “[There is a] perception of people [in Banchory and mid-Deeside] being wealthy, and it is a misperception.

“We have people who don't have a lot of money, and we want to make sure they have the opportunity to use that pool.”

“If we purport to be trying to get the nation’s health under control,” she added, “we will have to try and offer them areas to do some sport.”