‘Delight’ for aquafit group as class is to be restored

Session to restart at Blairgowrie High

Keep-fit fans in Blairgowrie are celebrating after sports bosses partially reversed a decision to cut an exercise class.

Aquafit fans – many of whom use the class to manage conditions such as MS or help with recovery from strokes – were facing the cancellation of two out of three of their sessions.

Blairgowrie High School, which has priority access to the pool, had wanted the time to introduce gender-segregated swimming sessions for pupils.

However, a last-minute rethink from school and sports body Live Active Leisure (LAL) has restored at least one of the sessions, with work under way to see if all three can be reorganised.

One regular class-goer said: “We are absolutely delighted to be reassured that our Thursday morning aqua class will definitely be restarting from the start of December.”

After being told last month that the sessions were to be axed, 36 members wrote to local Conservative councillor Caroline Shiers, who contacted the manager at the Live Active centre in Blairgowrie.

She said she was pleased to hear LAL intend “restarting the Thursday class from the start of December as the high school PE department move on to a different block of classes so will no longer require use of the pool”.

A spokeswoman for Blairgowrie High School said the school had decided to provide some swimming lessons in separate groups for girls and boys.

“PE staff at the school have reported that there was some positive impact on participation levels as a result of the separate classes,” she said.

A spokesperson from LAL said: “We are continually in dialogue with our colleagues in the high school and we hope we can find a solution for future terms.”

We hope we can find a solution for future terms. LIVE ACTIVE LEISURE

Pool in demand: Blairgowrie High.