Aberdeenshire Council has confirmed work is to commence this week on the Tarlair pool complex.

The project, which will cost around £300,000, will see the historic open air swimming pool stabilised and help to conserve its traditional features as well as prepare it for future use.

The pool, located on the north Aberdeenshire coast, has not been used in many years and its condition has deteriorated.

Owned by Aberdeenshire Council, the Category A-listed building near Macduff is well-known for its integrated Art Deco style building design and open air swimming pool layout. Work to restore it to its former glory will be carried out by specialist conservation consultants and engineers Addison Conservation and Design.

As part of the project, the dilapidated boating pool and its immediate surroundings will be transformed. Described as being of priority, the area has been damaged by time and tides, the local authority has said. However, the repair work will see it restored to its original function, but the boating pond will not be filled in. It is understood concrete will be used to make all the curves, as the original, while the children's paddling pool will also be included in the architectural layout. An access ramp will be installed on site to allow disabled visitors to reach the poolside.

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John Cox, Chairman of Aberdeenshire Council's Banff and Buchan Area Committee, said: "We are committed to stabilising Tarlair and preserving the category listing, and though it has taken a long time to get to this point, I'm delighted to see work start.

"This initial work will target the area worst affected by exposure to the elements and I hope that collaboration and dialogue with interested parties will continue to bear fruit in terms of bringing the whole complex back into use."

Brian Topping, Vice Chair, added: "Tarlair was in its heyday one of the top outdoor locations for leisure in the country and it brought visitors from far and wide into our area and it is rightly of important historical significance, as well as being a special place in some people's memories.

"Though the same levels of demand to go swimming may not be there nowadays, this work will help to provide a platform for future uses, while also reducing the size of future maintenance costs."

Covanburn Contracts Ltd has been appointed to the project. They are expected to start work on site this week and finish in October. Following this phase of work, Aberdeenshire Council has said any further work on site depends on finding possible uses for the pavilion, as well as sources of funding.

(JP/CD)