FOR SALE. Angus des res with development potential, complete with indoor pool.
Stunning views from high board but requires upgrading and around 120,000 gallons to make water feature complete.
It is unlikely to be the description Angus Council chiefs will put on the particulars of their latest property disposal, but the authority is poised to put the former Montrose swimming pool on the open market.
The Mall pool, which was replaced in October by a new £9 million complex attached to the existing Marine Avenue sports centre, has been decommissioned and boarded up.
Councillors will today be asked to agree that the building is put up for sale, but fears remain that it will become an unwelcome empty landmark.
Corporate services director Colin McMahon’s report to elected members states: “It is proposed that the former pool be declared surplus to the requirements of Angus Council and marketed for sale on the open market.
“Whilst this property is potentially suitable for affordable housing it is not currently economically viable to undertake such a development due to the estimated high cost ofdemolition which exceeds the resulting value of a cleared site.
“Given the nature and location of this property, action has been taken to limit vandalism.
“However, it would not be unreasonable for there to be a general expectation that the council will demolish the property should a quick disposal not be achieved. Unfortunately there are no current provisions for such demolition.”
The original decision to replace the pool, after more than 40 years of service to the town, followed a 2008 report to councillors revealing that a £1.7m estimate to keep the attraction in repair for a decade did not include the cost of remedial structural works involving “substantial” capital investment.