Sports complex work begins
Work has started on the extension to build a sports hub at Fraserburgh's James Ramsay Park.
The 250,000 project will see the Satorishido Gym and Fitness Centre double in size.
The development is being managed in two stages, with Albert Ross, chairman of the committee which runs the gym, telling the Herald: "We have raised the money and the actual building work will take place in two stages.
"The external work is Phase 1, followed by doing the inside. We have found that this is the best way to do it," he said.
Mr Ross praised the members of the club and local businesses who have supported the venture, saying: "We have done very well to raise the money. We have a lot of benefactors, including local companies and businessmen, many of whom have chosen to remain anonymous.
"Without their help it would just not be possible to undertake this project possible," he said.
The chairman added that the aim was to build the best facility possible, claiming: "We want to provide a variety of things to do.
"We are a Martial Arts Club, but we want to have other sports here as well, as we understand that not everyone is interested in Martial Arts, so our aim is to promote other sports," he said.
It was, he stressed, a club run for the members by the members.
"Every time, people come in here their money goes back into the facility. We will have approaching 1000 square metre after this development is complete and this doubling of capacity will make a big difference to what we can offer," Mr Ross added.
He hopes for the external work to be completed by the end of the month: "A local building company A and I Builders are doing the work and we have worked with them in the past," he added.
However, Mr Ross was unable to put a timescale on the completion of the interior work, admitting: "We have been very fortunate that as part of their refurbishment, Banff and Buchan College have donated materials to us. This has made a saving for us in using these recycled materials," he said.
Tackling the interior elements, such as plastering and electrical work, Mr Ross pointed to the strength and abilities within the club:
"We will try and utilise the man power and skills we have within the group. Much of the work we will do ourselves and that means that money saved could be used for other things," he added.
Mr Ross estimated that Phase 1 will cost in the region of 115,000, but that the second stage costings could fluctuate and would not be known until all the work was completed.
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Weather for Fraserburgh
Thursday 24 May 2012
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