A £500,000 proposal has been put forward to demolish Forfar’s old leisure centre which has become “a magnet for trouble”.
The facility closed a year ago to coincide with the opening of the multi-million pound community campus which replaced Forfar Academy, Forfar Swimming Pool and the leisure centre.
It was boarded up but was targeted by vandals and became a magnet for youngsters gathering in groups up to 30-strong to drink and cause havoc.
In one incident, visiting tourists at the adjacent caravan site had their car and caravan damaged when young thugs hurled chunks of concrete over the perimeter fence, with items also thrown at passing vehicles in the vicinity.
A report to be brought to Angus Council’s policy and resources committee on Tuesday has recommended the building is declared surplus to requirements and demolished.
Forfar Conservative councillor Braden Davy, said: “The funding for this has already been allocated and these plans are very welcome.
“They will ensure the area can find alternative uses as the idle building was a magnet for trouble.
“There have been reports of people causing vandalism, and congregating in the empty building so it’s good to see demolition plans which will stop these problems.
“Alternative uses have been explored, including as a library, but no other occupants have come forward.
“Once the building has been brought down it will allow the council to turn the site over to grass which can feed into the surrounding paths.
“It will also allow alternative options for the site to be explored.
“I hope the demolition can be done speedily and we can find an alternative use of this site to benefit the whole of Forfar.”
Lochside Leisure Centre previously had a main games hall, a drama/dance studio, a gym, two squash courts, weights area, climbing tower, crèche facilities and a café.
Outside there were facilities for tennis, football and golf.
The demolition of the leisure centre has been estimated and an allowance of £500,000 has previously been set aside to meet the costs, including reinstatement.
Ian Cochrane, Angus Council’s head of infrastructure, said: “The building had previously suffered subsidence with ongoing settlement and whilst a number of potential opportunities have been explored the building will ultimately need to be demolished.
“The building has suffered from some vandalism since its closure and the potential to be used for a library decant has been explored and discounted, allowing the building to be declared surplus.
“At this time the proposal following demolition would be to return the area to grass including some realignment of the paths around the building.
“Any alternative uses will be reported to committee as appropriate.
“The availability of the property has been circulated to all directorates with no alternative uses or interest being shown.”
