The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Trust takes the lead in final chance to save Forfar leisure centre
Atown charity has stepped up to take the lead in a lastgasp bid to save
Forfar’s Lochside Leisure
Centre.
Weeks away from a meeting which could finally end the saga surrounding the empty building, Forfar Community Football Trust has launched a survey to gauge the level of support from other clubs and organisations in the area for a community hub plan.
They hope to make a May proposal to Angus Council to finally stave off £400,000 plans to bulldoze the Forfar Loch building.
Last month, councillors looked again at Lochside’s future and decided a community asset transfer (CAT) or demolition remain the two best options.
But the trust accept the clock is ticking on hopes of keeping the 45-year-old centre standing.
A May 13 meeting will determine the next step.
The group secured charitable status in January 2020 in the latest development for what started out in 2012 as Station Park Community Trust, a partnership involving Forfar Athletic FC, Forfar Farmington FC and Angus Council.
FCFT vice-chairman Nicola McBride said: “We’re a fairly new charity and just went through that status process so we realise what is involved and the time these things take.
“Having created good partnerships with local community clubs and other local trusts in the town, we were greatly affected by Covid-19 in terms of new activity.
“However, we have had the chance to look at what we could achieve from being part of a development of a new community hub.
“We have a number of great ideas, but we want to complement rather than be in competition with what is in the town.
“This wouldn’t just be our group, ideally it would be a Forfar area trust and would be an umbrella body for everyone involved.”
As well as catering for a range of sports, the trust believes the building could offer opportunities for facilities including space for small local businesses, a pop-up cinema, physiotherapy/health rooms and a cafe.
Ms McBride added: “We just have enough time to build a business case to take to the council meeting.
“But we really need other groups to help us by giving us their views and support.
“If we can’t provide sufficient evidence to indicate the support of the community then it’s likely the council will take the option to demolish it.
“We were given access to the building so our structural and heating engineers could have a look round and there were no horror stories.
“The situation inside is what happens if any big building is left empty and we think it is sound for another 30 years.
“We can only try to give this a shot. But we can’t do it on our own and really need the support of as many other groups as possible.”
The centre was shut four years’ ago on the opening of the Forfar community campus. Plans to raze it were challenged by two town businessmen and the fight went all the way to Scotland’s highest court.
Judges declared the centre a common good asset, forcing a fresh community consultation on its future.
The council’s districtwide survey ran from December 3, 2020, to January 31 this year and drew just 334 responses.
More than a third backed bulldozing the centre, but a CAT plan also drew support.