Council plans £12m centre

Council plans £12m centre

22 February 2012 - by PAUL SYMINGTON

A NEW £12m leisure centre is to be built in Downpatrick and is expected to open in 2014.

The building will be constructed at the Ballydugan Road at the front of the existing Down Leisure Centre which will be demolished once the new complex is open.

The centre will contain a “full range of modern facilities” including 25-metre pool, a four-court sports hall, 60-station fitness suite, squash courts and a multi-purpose hall as well as parking for 200 cars.

Down councillors approved initial designs at a special meeting on Wednesday night having chosen the site after hearing a presentation of options from the project architects, the Kennedy Fitzgerald Partnership.

The architects had been asked to consider new build options at the existing site as well as the refurbishment of the current leisure centre. However, even though councillors had asked for the presentation, they decided not to watch the part of the presentation dealing with the refurbishment and asked for it to be removed.

The shortened presentation dealt with constructing a new complex at the front of the existing leisure centre and a building behind the centre, which would have cost an additional £1.7m.

A second option to build a new complex behind the Down Leisure Centre was rejected because it would have cost an additional £1.7m.

Project architect, Mr. Gareth McKnight, said the existing leisure centre would remain open throughout the construction phase with a temporary car park being opened behind the centre. He also confirmed the adjacent sports pitches will remain operational throughout the build.

He explained the building will have to be extensively piled to cope with the ground conditions. Mr. McKnight did not foresee any problems with the fact the area was once the landfill site for the town nor with any possible ground contamination from what was once the town gasworks on the site of Flynn’s garage.

Downpatrick councillor John Doris formally proposed the new facility be built in front of the existing leisure centre which was unanimously approved by councillors.

Councillor MIckey Coogan said it was a good news day for Downpatrick and the entire district.

“”It has been obvious for a number of years that we wanted a new leisure centre for the whole of the district in the county town,” he said.

“We need to consider when awarding the contract that it is a competitive market and that any savings which can be made, that money must go to enhancing facilities in Ballymote,” added Mr. Coogan.

Councillor Liam Johnston said there is a council plan to construct new 3G pitches at Dunleath Park and suggested the two projects could run in tandem.

Councillor Eamonn O’Neill said he was pleased the existing building will remain open throughout the construction period.

“It is important that the new leisure centre will be built on that site because of the economic regeneration potential which such projects realise,” he said. “There has been great development on Market Street as a result of the construction of the St. Patrick’s Centre.

Councillor Eamonn Mac Con Midhe proposed that an existing temporary access to the nearby Scout hall at Russell Park be made permanent as part of the scheme to relieve congestion problems in the estate.