24 February 2017

New Deveron Community and Sports Centre to open in Banff

An open day for residents and visitors in Banff and the surrounding area will take place next weekend giving them their first chance to see inside new sport and community facilities in the town.

Sports and community groups will join together to celebrate the opening of the new Deveron Community & Sports Centre on Saturday, March 4 from 10am until 4pm,

The new centre forms part of a wider £12.5m development of sports and community facilities in Banff and Macduff.

New indoor facilities include a climbing wall, four-court sports hall, two squash courts, fitness suite, dance studio and café as well as rooms which can be booked for community use and meetings.

Banff Swimming Pool has also been refurbished as part of the works and includes a new changing village, a steam room and a sauna.

Outdoor facilities include a floodlit all-weather pitch, two grass pitches, three tennis courts, a cycle track and a 400m running track.

As part of the community event, local clubs and groups will show off their skills at the new centre, including the squash and gymnastics clubs, Banff Playgroup and Banff Scouts.

The public will also be able to take part in a number of free activities, such as exercise classes (which require prior booking by calling the centre on 01261 455 777) and fun sessions in the upgraded swimming pool from 12.30pm, which will be on a first come first served basis.

Members of the public taking part in indoor activities are asked to bring along appropriate footwear for the sports hall and squash courts.

Community Learning & Development staff will also be on hand and along with Arts Development and Library colleagues will lead a Creative Tech event, which includes the opportunity for participants to learn how to print a 3D model.

Chair of the Banff and Buchan Area Committee, Cllr John Cox, said: “Deveron Community & Sports Centre is a first-class leisure facility and I’m very pleased it will open its doors to the public very soon.

“The opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to take part in sports and build their skills through Community Learning and Development at this centre are second-to-none and it really compliments the new Macduff Community & Sports Centre which opened at the end of last year.

“This community event is your chance to try some of the activities which will be on offer at the centre as well as see inside for the first time and I’m sure everyone is looking forward to going along as I am.”

Chair of the council’s Communities Committee, Cllr Anne Allan, said: “It will be fantastic to see the new Deveron Community & Sports Centre filled with people, this is an incredibly exciting development for Banff and the surrounding area.

“The new centre will provide learning opportunities, a huge range of activities which will enable people to live healthier lifestyles and new facilities for the community like the climbing wall.

“I’d like to thank local residents, who have been very patient while the new centre has been built, and I hope they all enjoy using it.”