Former office to be new base for swimming school for young Fife children

Octotots has been teaching under-fives to swim at swimming pools across the region for a number of years. However, the coronavirus pandemic prompted owner Gill Currie to seek out a permanent base.

She has secured planning permission to convert a unit at Dunfermline's Dewar House, within the Carnegie Campus business park, into a toddlers' swim centre. The unit had been a baby and toddler centre prior to its most recent use as an offer.

She said: "We've got a few hurdles to jump through yet but we're absolutely delighted the planning has come through."

Octotots has worked with Fife Sport and Leisure Trust in the past to hold classes in public swimming pools. However, restrictions brought in to prevent the spread of coronavirus has seen class sizes reduced and schedules moved around.

And while the business is focused on getting toddlers in the water, Ms Currie says there are other positives that have also been impacted by Covid-19.

"Being a new mum and getting out and meeting other mums is a massive thing," she added.

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"We've looked into (getting a permanent base) a few times but it has never gone beyond being an idea.

"There's a massive cost associated with this but at this point in time Covid has pushed us to make this decision. It was either scale back the business or expand - and there's such a big demand for this and chlorine means a pool is one of the safest environments you can be in to socialise."

Under the plans, the office space will have a 1.35m-deep training pool installed in its centre, measuring 10m x 5m, and windows around the pool and changing area will be frosted over to safeguard privacy.

Planning officer Scott Simpson approved the application with the condition that the unit will revert back to office use if the unit stops being used as a toddler swimming centre for a period of six months.

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