Andrew Whitaker Chief Political Reporter pool Olympic specialist

Aberdeen pool planners hire Olympic experts

Experts to help with application

By Andrew Whitaker political reporter

Published:

A COMPANY which helped plan this year’s Olympic Games stadium will bid to oversee plans for Aberdeen’s 50m pool.

Aberdeen pool project bosses have hired the PMP sports consultancy, which had a lead role in putting a business case for Beijing’s Olympic Stadium, to make sure the scheme is properly costed and completed on time.

The UK firm, which also helped Bolton Wanderers draw up plans for the Reebok Stadium, will put together a detailed scheme for the £23 million pool.

First Minister Alex Salmond has already said the government would contribute £5 million towards the pool, but a formal plan has yet to be submitted.

PMP’s role is to present the plan to the government.

Aberdeen swimming pool project boss Neil Fletcher said: “I’m delighted we’ve got a leading sports specialist

“When the formal bid is made, we want everything to be watertight.”

SNP Aberdeen North MSP Brian Adam, a project board member, said PMP’s involvement is good news for the pool in Aberdeen.

He said: “The funding appears to be in place for the pool and hopefully now it’s just a case of sorting out the details in a professional way.”

The pool project board has also asked Aberdeen University for £5 million.

It is hoped councils in the north and islands of Scotland, which would be likely to use the pool, would give a total of £4 million to the scheme, matched by Aberdeen’s Common Good Fund. The city council has also set aside £5 million.

The pool project board meets on May 27 and is likely to draw up a timetable to formally apply for the cash. The 10-lane pool would become part of a new £27 million Regional Sports Centre, being built at the former Chris Anderson Stadium site in Linksfield.

awhitaker@ajl.co.uk