Nairn Leisure Back in The Swim

The Highland Council’s Community Learning and Leisure team in Nairn is to re-open a new look Nairn Leisure facility on Saturday (2 July). And to mark the occasion, a weekend of special events is being organised.

Nairn Leisure closed on 21 February to ensure it provided access to customers with a disability. However, it was subsequently decided to extend the six-week closure to complete essential outstanding maintenance items.

Area Service Manager Mags Duncan-Stirling said: "It has been a long wait for everyone, but we will be open in time for the school holidays and the results are superb. We can now offer local and visiting disabled customers excellent access to the facilities. One of the main problems for disabled customers with opposite sex carers was the fact that the facility had only single sex changing rooms. Now there is a purpose-built communal disabled changing room with a state of the art remote controlled hoist which takes users through the changing room and allows them to access the toilet and shower on the way. At the poolside the hoist lowers them into the shallow end of the pool."

Other disability access work carried out includes dedicated disabled parking, a new foyer and reception desk, doorways, fixtures and fittings in some changing and toilet areas. There is also a new steam room with full disabled access. Customers will also see new tiling in the pool hall, new carpeting and furniture in the social area, and CCTV operating in and around the building.

A re-opening ceremony will take place at 10am on Saturday, followed by a weekend of special events. Provost Sandy Park said: "I am delighted the facility will be open in time for the holiday period and that we now have first rate disabled access to a first rate facility."

Facility manager Simon Workman said: "On behalf of the staff I would like to thank all our customers for their patience and hope they will be as pleased with the final results as we are. The staff have been busy during the closure. Amongst other things they have all completed and passed the new Institute of Sport and Recreational Management Disability Learning Programme "Welcoming Disabled People", and have received training workshops from various disability awareness groups. We look forward to welcoming everyone back as from 2nd July."

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