Saintfield centre to be revised

Saintfield centre to be revised

19 August 2015

PLANS for a new multi million pound community centre in Saintfield are to undergo a major reappraisal.

The design and budget for the proposed £3.2m Belfast Road centre are to be re-examined by Newry Mourne and Down Council. Designers are to be asked to ditch plans that were drawn up last year at a cost of £47,000 and to return to the drawing board.

The recommendation, which has caused jitters among some Rowallane councillors, was made by the council’s Active and Healthy Communities Committee on Monday evening due to the loss of a number of potential project partners.

It had originally been hoped that the Department of Education would commit almost £1m towards a sports hall in the development, while funding from Sports NI, Youth Service and the National Lottery was also being sought.

However, council director Michael Lipsett recommended re-examining the project after confirming these funds would not be available.

He said changing needs, including the recent construction of a state-of-the-art sports hall at Saintfield High School and a new indoor 3G pitch in Downpatrick, meant the needs of the Saintfield community had changed.

“We think now would be a good time to revisit the whole design and rational for the provision we are going to make,” said Mr Lipsett.

“It would mean we would have to re-engage the consultation team, put aside the plans we have and start again.

“The budget of £3.2m has not changed but the needs of the people of Saintfield have and if we can build everything the community needs and build it cheaper we can do that.”

Pointing out that a cheaper indoor synthetic pitch could now be considered considering the availability of 3G in Downpatrick, Mr Lipsett said that was a potential area for cost-saving.

“My role is to see if it is possible to do it cheaper. It will then be up to the council to decide if that money should be used elsewhere,” he said.

“It is not up to me to change the budget. It is up to me to see what we want and to cost that. I am merely pointing out that there may be options that could save the council money- a possibility that we could save the ratepayers some of the £3.2million.”

Despite accepting that local need may have changed, councillor William Walker said he feared this could be the council beginning to “chip away” at the overall project. He warned the council would have a “hell of a row” if it tried to cut the budget.

“We all work collectively to try to deliver for Saintfield but every time it comes onto the agenda I despair and wonder will we ever get anything,” he said.

“We had set aside a budget at the time and I do not want anything cut from it. The need has maybe changed but I still think the people of Saintfield deserve a first class facility.

“I thought we had moved forward when we purchased the land. We could look at the design and then come back and see what the costs would be but if you try to cut the budget now there will be a hell of a row about it.”

Councillor Terry Andrews said he too had his reservations about the future of the scheme.

However, chairman of Saintfield Development Association Martyn Todd said community groups were pleased with their working relationship with the new council. He said they were aware the needs of Saintfield were being examined.

“The merger of the councils has set the project back and that has been a problem for many residents in Saintfield who have been very frustrated,” he conceded.

“In the development association we have understood these mergers take time and we understood there would be such setbacks but we would not see this as going back to the drawing board.

“In February 2014 we did a comprehensive needs analysis and had 900 responses. We need to take this through.”

The recommendation to proceed with a new design for the centre was accepted and is due for ratification at the next council meeting.