An Angus businessman has vowed to take the fight to save an under-threat leisure centre to the highest court in the land to stop its demolition.
Mark Guild, managing director of Guild Homes (Tayside) Ltd., has instructed his solicitors to begin legal proceedings against Angus Council’s decision to flatten the Lochside Leisure Centre, branding the decision “unlawful”.
Addressing a well-attended meeting of Forfar Community Council on Thursday evening, he said months of failed attempts to secure the building for the use of the community left him with no other option but to petition for a judicial review of the decision.
These included a failed £30,000 offer by fellow-Forfar businessman Donald Stewart who had hoped to transform the centre into a trampoline park, cinema and restaurant.
Held in the drama studio at the Forfar Community Campus – opened in February 2017 as the leisure centre closed – the meeting saw Mr Guild take centre stage.
He stressed he had no intention of buying the building but wanted it retained for the use of the community and to save the public purse £500,000.
After the meeting he said: “I wrote to the council last Tuesday to say I had no other option. I have instructed my lawyers to petition for a judicial review as I felt the decision the council made was unlawful.
“We are now to petition the Court of Session. The way the decision was taken was not correct.
“This is the last thing we want to be doing. All we wanted was for Angus Council to listen and for the public to get the opportunity to be heard.
“We have far better things to be doing with our time and our business but, if we don’t do it, who will?”
The meeting took place an hour after Angus Council issued a statement confirming it was to progress with plans to demolish the centre and reinstate the common good land to parkland.
Leader of the administration, councillor David Fairweather said: “We believe there is tremendous value for the community in turning this area of common good land back to grass as part of the country park for the common good of the people of Forfar.
“Were we to sell off a valuable public space, it would require a change of use from common good land.
“A period of consultation would be needed and there would be a risk lengthy and costly court proceedings would be required.
“That process will come at the expense of the common good purse and if it fails and the judge decides it cannot be sold, that would be significantly out of pocket.”
Regarding Mr Guild’s legal action an Angus Council spokesman said: “A special meeting of Angus Council on February 7 considered the options for the building and re-confirmed the decision to progress with demolition.
“It is not appropriate to make any further comment or conjecture in the circumstances.”
