The new “beating heart” of Forfar has been celebrated at the official opening of the town’s £39 million community campus.
Almost 10 months since Forfar Academy pupils made the short but significant journey from the old school to their new one within the campus, youngsters showed off their state-of-the-art surroundings to a gathering of VIPs.
Piper and pupil Owen Woodcock serenaded guests, including Angus Council chief executive Margo Williamson, Angus Alive chairman Kenny Fraser and the school’s head teacher Kas Mohammad.
The local MP Kirstene Hair, MSP Mairi Gougeon and MEP Ian Hudghton were also in attendance.
Depute Angus provost and Forfar councillor Colin Brown said it was a proud day for everyone at the school.
“Forfar Community Campus is a multi-million pound investment in all our futures – a modern campus purpose-built for our pupils and everyone in our community,” he said.
“It will provide an environment where our young people can excel and develop the life skills that will serve them in good stead as they pass into adulthood.
“It is also a place where people of all ages can gather to enjoy a great wealth of sport, leisure and entertainment, as well as enjoying a variety of learning opportunities and one another’s company.”
Mr Brown said the school was the “beating heart of the Forfar community”, uniting the academy’s rich 200-year history with the modern facilities provided by Angus Alive’s culture, leisure and sports provision and the various adult and youth groups run by the communities team.
He added: “Partnership working has driven this project from the outset. It is a place for all the community – a place we can all be proud of.”
Gary Bushnell, chief executive of hub East Central Scotland, which developed the building in partnership with the authority, said: “It’s fantastic to see the campus now in daily use providing a modern learning environment, along with excellent sport and leisure facilities for all.”
The campus includes a 25 metre, six-lane swimming pool, astudio pool with a movable depth floor, double main games hall, gymnasium, and 50-station fitness suite and dance studios as well as grass seven-a-side pitches, two full-size football pitches and a floodlit multi-use games pitch incorporating three tennis courts.
A theatre provides a performance venue for drama and concerts, as well as other events, including conferences, workshops and meetings.
