History

The Beach Master Plan

Aberdeen City Centre Masterplan (CCMP) and Delivery Programme was approved unanimously in 2015 by Aberdeen City Council. In May 2021 the Council undertook a review of the 2015 CCMP and a new Beachfront Development Framework was created. The beach section of this new Aberdeen City Centre and Beach Masterplan (CCMBP) results in the loss of the Aberdeen Surf Life Saving Clubs facilities, which include equipment storage, changing and training facilities as well as an administration office.

The ASLSC

Aberdeen Surf Life Saving (ASLSC) has operated from its location on the Esplande location since 1992 and is now wholly run by volunteers with equipment maintained by donations, sponsorship and members free time and effort. As a result of the Beach Master Plan calling for the destruction of the existing facility members of ASLSC decided to take the opportunity to engage the council to enquire about a replacement facilities. The council indicated this indeed would be considered and requested a list of requirements for an adequate surf life saving facility. The club set about this task

The Birth of ABC

In considering the ASLSC facility requirements an idea was born. The Aberdeen Surf Life Saving club hosted an increasing amount of open water swimming, cold water dipping and general beach activity groups at their facility since the end of the COVID19 pandemic. ASLSC therefore felt the opportunity to create a new facility could go beyond the requirements of just the ASLSC and so they opened up the idea to these groups to join together under the banner of Aberdeen Beach Community (ABC). The idea was well received and so the opportunity to create a facility to support not only the ASLSC but to build on the fantastic community of enthusiasts that are taking advantage of the unique asset that Aberdeen is blessed with in the beach. The ABC feel a building like this will not only provide facilities to enjoy the beach, support accessibility and education in water safety but will help establish Aberdeen beachfront as a destination for water sports and beach users alike. With this desire, the group was formed with the following mission statement: 

To represent the views of those concerned with access to and facilities for the enjoyment of water-based activities along the Aberdeen beachfront. 

Being a volunteer-run group we will not initially aim to represent all views on every aspect of the beach masterplan, however, we are happy to collate and distribute findings as they come to light. Should resources become available we will happily expand our remit provided we can give the focus and attention that citizens valued views and opinions require.