Residents and visitors to the Isle Of Skye will be able to take part in more leisure opportunities than ever before thanks to the opening on July 1 of the new community facilities at Portree High School.

The 25 metre, 5 lane swimming pool features a floating floor which means the depth of the pool can be altered to cater for a wide range of activities such as diving, sub-aqua lessons and mother and toddler sessions. To complement the pool there is a sauna and steam room, a changing area with showers and a small viewing gallery. This element was part-funded by sportscotland.

On the dry side there is both a Games Hall and a Gymnasium for indoor sports and a fully equipped fitness room featuring the latest fitness and resistance equipment. Staff will be able to offer inductions and help to devise personal fitness programmes for all abilities. An impressive multi-purpose hall with flexible seating and staging systems will also be available for drama, dance, music and social event from the Autumn.

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High Life cardholders will be able to use their cards when visiting the swimming and sports facilities, offering great value for mone for the very best facilities.

From 1 July until the school return in August all the community facilities will be open to the public, seven days a week. The opening hours will be: Monday & Wednesday – 7am to 9pm; Tuesday & Thursday from 9am to 9pm; Friday 7am to 7pm; Saturday 9am to 4pm; Sunday 10am to 4pm.

The current Portree Swimming Pool complex will close on June 14 to allow staff to prepare to welcome customers on July 1. Two special open days will be organised later in June with staff giving tours around the new complex. The Council is also looking for a new name for the community facilities so they can be marketed and promoted in their own right. Anyone who has a suggestion in keeping with traditional or geography of the area should contact John MacDonald on 01478 614057.

The July 1 will also signify a new chapter for Portree library with the opening of the new community library. Library users will benefit from a wider selection of stock, increased opening hours including 2 late evening openings each week, more computers with free internet access, the people’s network, a dedicated mezzanine level to host the local history section. The building will be bright and spacious with full access for disabled people. The increase in space will allow for more reading events and special promotions for young library users to take place.

The current library building will close its doors on Saturday June 21 to allow staff time to prepare for welcoming people to the new library on Tuesday July 1. From this date the library opening hours will be – Monday 9am to 5pm; Tuesday & Wednesday 9am to 8pm; Thursday & Friday 9am to 5pm; Saturday 9am to 4pm.

(GK)