£650,000 hydrotherapy pool comes a step nearer

Published: 15 February, 2007

Mark McCann (left), Olwyn Macdonald, Donald Angus Cameron of Lochiel and Shirley Senn help cut the first sod. The Write Image 01397 703323

CONSTUCTION of Lochaber's new £650,000 hydrotherapy pool in Fort William began on Saturday with the cutting of the first turf.

The long-awaited ceremony came exactly ten years after the voluntary campaign for this local amenity first began.

And it represented a major milestone in the efforts over that decade by charitable organisation, Lochaber Hydrotherapy Ltd, to provide the pool, which will be located alongside Lochaber Leisure Centre and swimming pool.

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The premises will also boast a mother and toddler learners’ facility and a sports injury clinic.

With the complete funding package now in place, work on the project will go on apace, with the opening date scheduled for a year from now.

Clan chief, Donald Angus Cameron of Lochiel, and Highland Council’s Lochaber area convener, Olwyn Macdonald, jointly undertook the symbolic sod-cutting, wielding a silver spade.

However, a decade of real spadework had already been carried out by Lochaber Hydrotherapy chairman, Mark McCann, whose 1997 vision is now a major step nearer to reality. On site yesterday, in addressing the group of fundraisers and well-wishers, Mr McCann said: “Over the years leading up to today, and this long overdue occasion, we have had many ups and downs and disappointments.

“We covered thousands of miles to convince people of the local need for a hydrotherapy pool, and of the funding and grant-aid required for it.

“And we have certainly come a long way since we held our first fundraising raffle in 1997, which realised £9.10 to start us off!

“Our studies show that 2,500 people in Lochaber, more than 10 per cent of the population, will benefit from hydrotherapy treatment. That number includes 300 local children.”

Lochiel, who suffers from MS, is a keen swimmer, and he paid tribute to Mark McCann’s determination, and to the “people of Lochaber who responded to the rallying call”.

And Cllr Macdonald added: “This is a unique day. I wish the concept all the best.

“Things will move on now and people will soon be seeing the building going up, indeed I hope to be one of the first to jump into the pool!”

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