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Groundbreaking means progress and it is about time

The pool is coming. Despite the length of time spent arguing over its price tag and debating all of the extras that will now be attached to it, the Town of Barrhead got their wish and the aquatic centre project is finally, officially underway.

The pool is coming.

Despite the length of time spent arguing over its price tag and debating all of the extras that will now be attached to it, the Town of Barrhead got their wish and the aquatic centre project is finally, officially underway.

Yes, there has been work going on at the site for a little while now, but the mayor and all of the town councillors, the reeve and all of the county councillors, along with Shannon Carlson and Clarke Builders representatives were all on hand on Tuesday, April 5, to lean on their shiny shovels for the ground-breaking ceremony.

The sky even broke its overcast sullenness to let the sun shine down on the assembled crowd.

Before the county held their first plebiscite to ask its residents whether they wanted to contribute funds to the town’s proposal or not, and before the town itself released any press releases regarding any aquatic centre plans, my colleagues were there keen to provide our readers with information.

I hear we have been following this subject for years, and just like the people who read our pages, I wanted to know what was going to happen with this project too.

Although at times it may have seemed like Barry and I were choosing sides or trying to play one group off another, in reality, the tension, the confusion, the excitement and the frustration that many of our readers felt – some of the more vocal members of our community chose to write letters instead, were mirrored by us here at the office.

Like you, I am a member of this community as well, and the choices of our councils impact us just as much, whether we live on an acreage or rent an apartment.

While I can’t speak for the rest of the office, after nine months spent waiting with baited breath, I am personally pleased that work has finally started and it looks like I wont be having to commute to Westlock just to go swimming – at least in another year or so.

Hopefully the pool is sturdier than the shovels at the ground-breaking though.

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