Welcome to the Black Isle Swimming Pool Foundation website
Our aim is to fulfill a community-wide expression of desire that a swimming pool be provided for the 10,000 people of the Black Isle. Such a pool is particularly needed by the growing number of young people in the area who are currently excluded from swimming.
We have been invited by The Big Lottery to submit a Stage Two application for funding and this was submitted by the deadline date of 5 February 2009. A copy of the Business Plan and Supporting Appendices can be downloaded here:
BISPF Business Plan 2009-01-30.pdf (1,9 MB)
BISPF Supporting Appendices 2009-01-30.pdf (6,8 MB)
In order to help us with our submission we carried out a public survey during October 2008. The results of this are available here by downloading one of these files:
BISBF Survey Results 2008-11-05 v2.doc (447 kB)
BISPF Survey Results Presentation.pdf (1,1 MB)
BISPF Survey Results Presentation.ppt (1,1 MB)
How we will achieve our aim
We intend to achieve our aim by providing a 20 by 8.5 metre pool with a small play pool adjacent in Phase 1, and at a later stage to add ancillary facilities such as a sauna and sun bed. The pool would be built adjacent to the Black Isle Leisure Centre which in turn, is adjacent to Fortrose Academy which caters for all secondary pupils in the area. We have secured planning consent and most of the land needed for the pool will be gifted by Highland Council.
The Foundation and Proposed Funding
Set-up in 1996, on the initiative of the Community Councils, the Foundation is a Company limited by guarantee. (Scottish Charity Number SCO24448). Our Business Plan estimates cost of the pool to be at least £2.8 M. (Costs being updated) We aim to raise part of the capital cost from the National Lottery, Scotland, the Highland Council Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Highlands and Islands Partnership Programme, charitable trusts, businesses and our own efforts. Our Business Plan shows that only a modest annual revenue grant would be needed from Highland Council.
The Area and Community
The Black Isle is a peninsula bounded by the Inverness Firth to the south, the Moray Firth to the cast and the Cromarty Firth to the north. It is largely an agricultural community of about 200 square miles, extending from Muir of Ord in the west to Cromarty in the east, mainly in a number of small communities. The largest of these is Fortrose and Rosemarkie with over 3000 people. The population, about 10,000, has risen 15% since 1980, and is set to increase further in the immediate future as housing developments are implemented. The Black Isle is now the only substantially populated district in the Highland Council area without a swimming pool.
The Need
The nearest swimming pools are both some 20 miles distant from Fortrose, and 30 miles from other parts of the area. These pools are heavily used, and our children would have to he bussed to Alness in Easter Ross- a round trip of 60 miles. Indeed, the 1,500 school population is, in effect, excluded from swimming, and the children are thus seriously disadvantaged.
There is also a substantial number of senior citizens in the catchment area who would benefit from the gentle and healthy exercise that a pool would provide.
The medical practices and health professionals in the area actively support the concept and state: we support this important community venture which would undoubtedly improve the health and mobility of many residents.
In the season, there is a large tourist and visitor population. A pool would be an added attraction, helping to promote trade and provide employment in an area which is suffering badly from the "magnet" effect of urban Inverness, the downturn in agriculture and the closure of the fabrication yard at Nigg. The pool itself would create up to 12 full time equivalent jobs.
Local Fund-Raising
We have already raised over £60, 000, with a promise of a further £2,500. Most of this has been contributed by local people, community groups, clubs and societies. An active fund-raising programme will be resumed when Highland Council accept the Plan for capital and revenue contributions.
Conclusion
We face a challenge to raise the substantial amount of money needed to provide the pool. But we are heartened by the support we enjoy from the community for the provision of this much-needed facility which will improve the health and quality of life of so many people. We believe the cause is a worthy one and we now seek your support to bring it to reality
February 2009
email: s.edmond05tiscali.co.uk