The Tain Royal Academy Community Complex (TRACC) is under threat of demolition from Highland Council.
The TRACC facility was opened more than 50 years ago. The building is now reaching the end of its natural lifespan and will continue to deteriorate without further investment.
The closure and demolition of TRACC will cut off vital sport and fitness facilities, impacting the mental and physical health of hundreds of people in and around Tain who visit the complex on a weekly basis.
Right now, the Highland council is consulting on five different options on what to do with TRACC, some of which propose the full closure and demolition of the site, leading to years of uncertainty about whether a new fitness center would ever be built.Residents and Living rent members of Tain demand that the council investigate a sixth option put forward by the community that best meets its needs.
This option would allow TRACC to remain open and provide a revenue stream that would fund a new fitness centre and swimming pool to be built at the Tain School Campus or elsewhere in the town.
You can read the full consultation here: https://www.highland.gov.uk/tracc. The consultation ends on 1st August 2025.
By signing this petition, I grant permission for Living Rent to respond to this consultation on my behalf.
Endorse our response to the consultation and support our demands that the Highland council -
- Investigates a sixth option, which would retain TRACC while new funding is sourced for the eventual construction of new facilities.
- Commits to installing a new heating plant before the demolition of other TRA buildings, which would allow TRACC facilities to continue to operate independently. The council should also seek ways to cause minimal disruption while the necessary works are being carried out, or offer sufficient alternatives to mitigate for any closure of the facilities during those works.
- Ringfence £800K per year from the revenue raised by Blarliath Solar Farm to fund the building of a new fitness centre and swimming pool at the Tain School Campus or a suitable site elsewhere in the town
