CAMPAIGNERS opposed to the proposed new Broch swimming pool being built in James Ramsay Park have stepped up their efforts to get Aberdeenshire Council to think again.
The group of residents from streets bordering the park have collected a 300-strong petition against plans lodged to construct the new facility on the south west corner of the public park.
They are urging all those who have signed the petition to a
lso write individually to planners stating their concerns.
Objectors stress that they are not against Fraserburgh having a new swimming pool - with many actively participating in fundraising activities for FISSH, the community group which has been pressing for a new state of the art facility. However, they feel that a great many people backed the campaign when it looked as if the most likely location of a new pool was on the Links behind Fraserburgh Leisure Centre.
Jean Mitchell believes that once council officials had ruled out the Links as a possible site, further public consultation should have taken place.
She said: "I think the council had a moral obligation to discuss this with people, because the initial FISSH plans were for the ground behind the Leisure Centre. When the council changed the plans from the Links to the James Ramsay Park, they should have had another public meeting."
Andrew Tait accused the council of simply going for the cheapest option in terms of the land they have selected, stating: "I think the council are taking the cheapest option, that is the main point, as the ground is more expensive anywhere else.
"There is plenty of ground available at other sites in the town," he said.
He pointed to two particular areas - Fraserburgh Academy and Banff and Buchan College - which could be more suitably developed.
The James Ramsay Park objectors feel that such a leisure facility would be better suited to being close by an existing leisure and educational campus. Another objector pointed out that with the expansion at Banff and Buchan College over recent years, it would be the ideal site for a new pool.
George Sutherland pointed to the fact that the main area of growth in terms of housing in the town was to the north of the town- an area which was starved of facilities, particularly for children.
Mr Sutherland also stressed that very few families with young children lived in the vicinity of the proposed development.
Residents are also concerned about car parking levels, with Mr Sutherland warning that many people simply will not drive around to the proposed entrance off Maconochie Road adjacent to the car park used by Gray and Adams.
Motorists, he claimed, will avoid the bottle neck caused by having the swimming pool entrance near to a factory and a large supermarket and will park on the other side of the park on Strichen Road then walk through.
He called on councillors to come and see for themselves, saying: "We are not against Fraserburgh having a new swimming pool. We are in favour of a new pool, but we do not think this is the best site for it."
A spokeswoman for Aberdeenshire Council said: "The site outlined in the planning application submitted for the new swimming pool in Fraserburgh was included in the public consultation exercise.
"The council considered several sites and the one at James Ramsay Park was the most viable when taking account of factors such as planning issues, land availability and ground suitability."
Full planning permission is being sought for the erection of a new swimming pool and community centre with associated car parking, the upgrade of an existing road junction and the re-alignment of existing car park. The closing date for public comments on the application is March 17.
