Published on:
01
March 2013
Provost Tina Murphy and Council Leader, Councillor Gary Womersley were among the invited guests at the official opening of the Ochil Leisure Centre, the former Alva Pool, on Friday.
The Centre was officially opened by Lucinda Kerr, the secretary of new owners Ochil Leisure Enterprises, who unveiled a commemorative plaque.
Councillor Womersley, who made a short speech at the opening ceremony, said: " Swimming is a priority sport for the Council which is why the Council has made such a significant financial commitment to OLE.
"OLE is a key partner in helping the Council to deliver our Leisure Strategy, meeting our targets of increased levels of participation in swimming, investing in the future health and well being of our communities.
"This is the dawn of a new and exciting chapter for the pool and the people who use it every day. The new-look leisure centre will be a vibrant and important focal point for the Hillfoots and the whole of Clackmannanshire and I am sure it will be a huge attraction for local people and visitors alike.
"I would like to take this opportunity to wish all the members of OLE and the future users of the Ochil Leisure Centre the very best and reiterate our long-standing commitment to the pool's successful future."
The official handover of the key from Councillor Womersley on behalf of Clackmannanshire Council to Douglas Skilling, acting chairman of OLE, the new owners, took place last July, the first formal step of taking ownership of the Centre, the first major step on the way to Friday's re-opening of the facility.
Numerous members of the community turned out to watch the handover.
Councillors recommended to transfer the former Alva Pool complex and associated car park to Ochil Leisure Enterprises (OLE) for a sum of £1.
It was a condition of the transfer that in the event that the Complex is no longer required by OLE, the Complex would be re-transferred back to the Council.
Councillor Womersley also presented £250,000 in funding from Clackmannanshire Council, to help get the project underway.
In addition OLE was awarded a grant of £10,000 from "Awards for All" in June, last year, a grant which has been used towards the cost of refurbishing the changing facilities in the swimming pool at the new Ochil Leisure Centre.
It was also agreed at the Council's Special Budget meeting earlier this month to provide £75,000 in additional support to OLE following the transfer of the asset and opening of the facility.
Mr Skilling said: "There has been a lot of work done to get to this stage. We would like to thank the many people from Clackmannanshire and beyond for their support and patience. We are delighted that Ochil Leisure Centre has finally opened. We hope that the people of Clackmannanshire use the facility on a regular basis."
When Alva Pool closed on 1st July, 2011, following a Special Council meeting on 10th February, 2011, previous users of the Pool were offered alternative accommodation in Council facilities, including the two main users, Alloa Swimming Club and Sports Development, who were moved to Tulliallan Swimming Pool.