Famous Tropicana slide facing demolition in leisure overhaul

Famous Tropicana slide facing demolition in leisure overhaul

17 November 2021

NEWCASTLE’S famous Tropicana swimming pool’s outdoor slide is to be demolished as part of a major new plan to significantly improve leisure facilities in the resort.

The work will be carried out in tandem with the demolition of the auditorium extension at the rear of the Newcastle Centre in a £450,000 project discussed by councillors in private on Monday evening.

It’s believed that the demolition of the slide will result in the permanent closure of the family pool, with suggestions that some form of indoor pool provision will be included in the planned new multi-million pound leisure and community facility.

It is understood that the full cost of the ambitious Newcastle Centre redevelopment plan is yet to be finalised by senior council officials.

A detailed feasibility study undertaken earlier this year looked at a number of potential locations for a new leisure centre and suggested the Newcastle Centre site a firm favourite to house the new facility.

Members of Newry, Mourne and Down Council’s Active and Healthy Communities committee rubber-stamped the capital project proposal on Monday night when it was also agreed to rehouse services provided in the auditorium within the existing centre.

Redeveloping the existing centre on Central Promenade – which forms part of the Annesley Buildings – had been previously ruled out due to the scale of the costs involved.

It is known that the listed building currently cannot accommodate the needs of local people due to the size of its rooms.

Councill officials have previously confirmed that plans to redevelop the town centre site will not impact on part of the promenade at the rear.

Senior council officials have previously acknowledged the problem of Newcastle not having a modern indoor facility as one of Northern Ireland’s premier tourist resorts.

Also on Monday night, members of the Active and Healthy Communities Committee rubber-stamped a major reconfiguration of the Ballynahinch Community Centre.

The work at the Windmill Street complex will help reconfigure the interior of the building to maximise space in order to allow more community activities to be held there.