Lossiemouth swimming pool to be replaced

Councillors today agreed to include a new swimming pool as part of a replacement project for the Lossiemouth High School campus.

They also opted to build an 800-pupil school rather than a straightforward replacement for the existing 700-place school.

The increased capacity will take account of new housing development in Lossiemouth, the arrival of more RAF families over the next few years and proposals to rezone Burghead Primary School to Lossiemouth High.

The cost of the new school and swimming pool is estimated at £31million, with the Scottish Government paying £17.3million via the Scottish Futures Trust.

The existing high school dates from the late 1970s and it was announced earlier this year that it was to be replaced as part of the final phase of the national Schools for the Future programme.

Lossiemouth councillor John Cowe, seconded by Councillor Douglas Ross, moved that the existing swimming pool – which is attached to the school – should be replaced as part of the overall project.

Councillor George Alexander, seconded by Councillor Anne Skene, moved an amendment to build a replacement school with an 800 pupil capacity, but omitting the swimming pool.

Councillor Cowe’s motion was carried by 18 votes to seven.

Moray Council area stretches from Tomintoul in the south to the shores of the Moray Firth, from Keith in the east to Forres in the west. The council and its 4,500 employees respond to the needs of 92,500 residents in this beautiful part of Scotland, which nestles between Aberdeenshire and the Highlands.

Famous for its colony of dolphins, fabulous beaches and more malt whisky distilleries than any where else in Scotland, Moray is a thriving area and a great place to live.

Headquartered in Elgin, the administrative capital of Moray.