Lochgilphead’s MACPool has new manager Fiona
Lochgilphead’s MACPool has finally found a new manager.
Taking over from Graham Love, who left the pool in July 2018, Lochgilphead local Fiona Macalpine will now be managing the Mid Argyll Community Pool.
With chairwoman Kim Ritchie introducing her with the words ‘new start, new year, new team’, Fiona enjoyed her first cup of coffee on the job.
Fiona said: ‘I’m just getting in the door and finding my feet, looking to continue the progress that the pool has been making so far and hopefully moving on to bigger and better things.’
Fiona has made this change after working at Argyll College UHI, working with all the schools, timetabling the whole college.
She said: ‘That was 17 years I’d been with the college so this will be a nice change.’
And it seems Fiona has some history with the pool.
She said: ‘When the pool first opened, I was one of the first lifeguards. So it’s like coming back to it. Swimming has always been there.’
MACPool board member Lynn Johnstone said: ‘We’re overjoyed to have her on board.’
Chairwoman Kim said: ‘The whole of the board are delighted to have her onboard and looking forward to working with her on the redevelopment into 2019.’
The 22-year-old MACPool’s redevelopment is ongoing, with 2018’s annual general meeting in December confirming plans for the £1.5 million renovation to the MACPool. With a Scottish Land Fund grant of £315,788 offered in April, MACPool has the ability to buy the land it sits on and the surrounding buildings.
The plan is to take over the adjoining Citizens’ Advice Bureau offices, to expand the MACPool building and create a soft play area and a cafe. With the added land the square outside the Citizens’ Advice Bureau gives, there is also talk to adding more parking spaces.
Proposed changes also include upgrading the pool itself and the changing areas as well as a new public gallery.
In March, Kim Ritchie told the Argyllshire Advertiser: ‘We see MACPool as being an essential asset to the community. We have been keeping our guard in the swim now for 22 years and we want to do it for another 22 years.
‘We think that by doing this expansion and giving these extra services we are going to provide an even better and more varied service to the people of Mid Argyll.’