Newcastle leisure centre site debate rumbles on

Newcastle leisure centre site debate rumbles on

1 October 2025

A LIST of potential sites examined for Newcastle’s planned £12m leisure centre is to be provided to local politicians with explanations as to why they were rejected.

The move was agreed recently when Newry, Mourne and Down Council warning that moving away from the preferred location in the heart of the resort could set the project back by up to a decade.

Council officials insist the preferred option is to build the ultra-modern complex at the rear and to the side of the existing Newcastle Centre at Central Promenade.

Councillors representing the Mournes area had expressed concern at the leisure centre site in the heart of the resort labelling it ”restricted” and pointing to a lack of parking spaces.

They also suggested examining the potential to locate the new centre on the outskirts of the resort which would have significantly greater parking capacity.

However, given that initial designs have been drawn up and consultants are to be appointed to drive the scheme forward, the local authority says the organisation could not recommend considering another site at this time “given the risk associated with it”.

Council officials are recommending sticking with the current location, with public engagement planned once the consultancy team is appointed to examine various design options for the site.

The proposed new facility will feature an indoor leisure pool, three 30 metre swimming lanes, dedicated heated play pool for children and an ultra-modern gymnasium.

The existing Tropicana outdoor children’s pool at the Newcastle Centre will bulldozed under the preferred option.

Local councillor Jill Truesdale voiced her disappointment that the new leisure centre was an item listed for “noting” at the recent meeting of the council’s Active and Healthy Communities Committee and not for full discussion.

She proposed that a full list of all the sites examined as potential locations for the new centre should be made available and an explanation why they were rejected.

Following the meeting, she said she was “so disappointed” that something Newcastle has been denied for decades was listed as an item ‘for noting’.

She continued: “I have spoken before about the lack of parking and smaller size leisure centre in Newcastle in comparison to others in the district. 

“To now say it would set the project back ten years is rather hard to believe considering sod cutting for the new Downpatrick leisure centre began in February 2016 with a target completion of autumn the following year. 

“With delays due to redesign of the substructure, the project completion was pushed to the final quarter of 2018 meaning a build time of two years and three months, with three to four months added on for delay.”

“The appointment of consultants has been protracted to say the least, given extensive studies have been done before over the years,” she continued. 

“Council officers have said they will be consulting with the public on various design options on the site. There is no doubt the current gym facilities in the Newcastle Centre are long past their sell-by date and really should never have been placed there.”

Cllr Truesdale said multiple feasibility studies and appraisals identified the urgent need for replacement facilities and the need for modern wet and dry leisure provision. 

“The Tropicana build in the 1980s was also one of the council’s biggest mistakes but the public should not have to pay for those mistakes which were not taken in its name. The Tropicana was a particularly divisive project,” she claimed.

Cllr Truesdale said drone footage above the current Newcastle Centre shows extensive rock armouring wrapped right around the site, asking why build a new leisure centre on a site that has already been deemed in need of protection?

She continued: “The recent gondola debacle has clearly shown the council needs to engage with what the residents want and need. What we don’t want is second best.

“It was only a matter of months ago the council was willing to build a gondola base station in Donard Park yet the venue as a proposed leisure centre site has not been mentioned.”

Cllr Truesdale added: “If you look at the Department of Infrastructure flood maps, the climate change floodplain maps and the climate change surface water maps, they show clear flooding around the Newcastle Centre.

“I look forward to reading the proposed leisure sites that were scoped and the reasons for their dismissal.”