Leisure centre revamp to cost £18m more than first thought

The proposed redevelopment of a leisure centre in County Fermanagh is now set to cost £18m more than first estimated, a public meeting has been told.

Councillor Adam Gannon told the meeting on Monday night that the Lakeland Forum overhaul would now cost £70m.

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council will make its final decision on the revamp project later on Tuesday, if it approves it then the centre in Enniskillen will close at the end of April for two years.

The council said the redevelopment proposal was developed following “extensive consultation and engagement with elected representatives, members of the public, statutory and community organisations and local businesses”.

The plan is to build a new state-of-the-art leisure, health and wellbeing hub on the waterfront site of the existing 49-year-old leisure centre.

Included in the proposal are sports amenities including a new eight-lane swimming pool, separate learner pool and splash pad for young children and gym facilities.

It would also have community areas and dedicated areas for health and wellness activities.

But some people are concerned by a lack of facilities in the area during the redevelopment.

Holly Barclay, a member of the Lakelanders swimming group, is worried what it will mean for her.

The council has set aside dedicated early morning time slots for the group at Omagh Leisure Complex – about 28 miles away from Enniskillen.

But the 13-year-old said this was not ideal.

“I’m there [Lakeland] almost every day sometimes twice a day,” she said.

“To see it get knocked down is literally insane.”

“I don’t think [Omagh] is doable. We are supposed to be there at 06:00 in the morning so that would mean leaving home at 05:00 and we’d be waking up at 03:45 every morning.”

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council said it had offered “a comprehensive programme of alternative leisure provision” to ensure users have access to a range of leisure facilities during the proposed redevelopment.

Gannon said he understood the concerns some people had but that he supported the redevelopment plans.

“The room tonight was very much people who are against the proposals, I know in my experience engaging with the community that people there are a lot of people for this,” he said.

“I know the majority of communications I’ve had with people is supportive.

“Councillors have known rough costs for over two years now.

“Building a big project is about more than the bricks and mortar”.

Noelle McAloon, the manager of Enniskillen Business Improvement District, and said the plans were very exciting.

“There is a lot of wet weather here so having additional wet weather facilities would be hugely beneficial, having a new building that people can feel proud of having,” she said.

“We need the facilities, we need the leisure facilities that that are becoming of Enniskillen.

“There is huge potential, because we have so many lovely visitors and tourists that come here throughout the year so having somewhere that they can go when the weather isn’t as nice would be really, really beneficial to the town and could bring lots more visitors in”.

The redevelopment plan will be part funded by £20m from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund.