Leisure centre ground tests

Leisure centre ground tests

17 April 2013

THE outcome of ground condition tests in Newcastle could decide where the town’s new £7m leisure centre is built, it has emerged.

Specialist contractors working on behalf of Down Council were in the resort last week carrying out borehole tests.

The work concentrated on the council-owned Donard Park where the local authority initially proposed to build the new complex and a former primary school site located at nearby Shanslieve Drive.

Down Council’s plan to build the new centre in Donard Park sparked protest in some quarters, prompting the local authority to also consider purchasing the former St. Mary’s Girls’ PS site.

But several bids to acquire the Shanslieve Drive location have proved unsuccessful with the site now for sale on the open market. The local authority recently doubled its bid to secure the former school site.

Councillor Carmel O’Boyle, who asked Down Council to look at purchasing the former school site to house the new leisure centre, said the borehole tests will provide vital information on the ground conditions at both locations through the collection of soil, water and rock samples.

She continued: “Once these samples are tested we will be in a better and more informed position in relation to knowing the comparative costs of piling on both sites prior to construction.

“So while much has been said and written about a preferred site, the samples collected from both locations could be the key factor in determining which of the two is more suitable from a cost perspective for Down Council.”

Councillor O’Boyle said she welcomes the progress that the borehole testing represents and looks forward to hearing the recommendations and advice of the experts.

She added: “I am concerned of course that the brownfield former school site is now on the open market and sincerely hope Down Council has not missed the boat during the early negotiation phase.

“This is a site of over three acres, so it is bound to be particularly attractive to developers and housing associations.

“However, we will have to wait and see, although I am confident that progress will be made in moving this project forward in the coming months for the people of Newcastle.”