An investment of almost £18m for school improvements and a replacement swimming pool for Aberdeenshire has been warmly welcomed by councillors. swimmers.

Members of Aberdeenshire Council's Education, Learning and Leisure (EL&L) Committee on Thursday gave their support to primary and secondary school enhancement projects approaching £9.8m, as well as a new swimming pool for Fraserburgh costing £8.2m.

The schemes are to be funded from Aberdeenshire Council’s Capital Plan, with work on some projects due to begin this year, and others taking place over the course of the next three years.

The projects range from dining, playground and toilet upgrades, to general upgrades and refurbishment of specific school departments.

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Plans for a new facility to replace the ageing Fraserburgh Swimming Pool and Community Centre follow approval of a strategy for investing in new and upgraded swimming pools in August last year.

The scheme has been developed in consultation with local group Fraserburgh Initiative for Sport, Swimming and Health (FISSH), which has already raised £40,000 for equipment at a new facility.

The proposal involves the creation of a 25 metre, six-lane pool with an indoor sports hall, fitness suite, soft play area, community learning and development rooms and other facilities, such as changing rooms.

It would replace the existing four-lane, 25 metre pool and importantly would offer capacity for competitive training. Potential sites, including a preferred site at the North Links, are currently being investigated.

The EL&L Committee agreed that details plans for the facility be drawn up, and that a further report is brought to committee with regards to potential sites. An application for funding will also be made to sportscotland.

Fraserburgh and District Councillors Brian Topping and Ian Tait voiced their strong support for the pool scheme.

"The community of Fraserburgh will be very, very pleased to see this pool coming to the town," said Cllr Tait.

EL&L Committee chairman Cllr Richard Stroud added: "This pool will meet the competitive needs of the north of Aberdeenshire, which is very positive."

(GK/JM)