'Fight for centres'

I am writing to declare my complete and total opposition to the proposed closure of Waves, Cascades and Brownlow and the building of a new facility in the 'centre' of Craigavon.

As a Craigavon ratepayer and a very regular user of all three centres I feel I have the right to make my feelings known. I have spoken to many other users since this proposal was published and have found them to be against the plan.

The new plan will in my opinion be detrimental to the Lurgan and Portadown areas. These are communities which need a local leisure centre which is within walking distance.

Having a pool in each of the areas gives children, once they are old enough, the independence to walk to their local facility. This is very important because not all parents have the time, or some the inclination, to take them to the pool.

There are also quite a few families that don't have access to a car. These children will not be able to travel out to the centre of Craigavon. The local pools provide a safe and neutral environment for our children.

I also believe that every child should be taught to swim at an early age. It seems unrealistic to believe the Council will be able to put all the schools in the Craigavon area which currently use three pools into one centre. There are a large number of schools using the current pools. Will these children lose out?

If you go to the pool any Saturday morning and evenings during the week there are many swimming classes going on. Three pools with these classes going on into one centre? I find it hard to believe that this will be possible.

There are two swimming clubs and a triathlon club which will all require pool time. How will this be provided?

Adult swimming is another area which I believe will suffer. Many people who work in the areas close to the current leisure centres are able to make time for a swim before they start - (early bird) - at lunch time or even just after work on their way home. Closing our local pools will reduce the number of people able to use the pools in this way.

Another group which have to be considered are the retired members of the community. Many people use the three facilities for exercise but also importantly as a place where they can meet up and socialise.

The council need to remember that the provision of leisure facilities is not necessarily for profit. The ratepayers need to have these facilities available to them within their own local area.

These are provisions which benefit the community in other ways. They provide fitness opportunities for local people and keep some of our young people away from other less healthy activities. The benefits both mental and physical this will be reflected in a reduction in the call on the health service.

As I have mentioned before these are neutral places where religion, colour and background make no difference. Each centre serves a vital role in its own locality.

As a resident and voter from Lurgan, a town which I have seen become more and more run down with many vacant shops and offices, I feel that our councillors (who we elect) should hang their heads in shame if they support a proposal which will remove one of the few assets we have left in our local area. Voters should remember their actions in this matter when they come looking for our vote at election time. Where is Lurgan Forward at this time? This is a case of Lurgan backward yet again.

Where is the consultation regarding this matter? A meeting in the local pool where a well primed council representative gives the impression that it is a done deal and that people's opinions won't change the inevitable.

A situation where a pool user can't sign a petition against the plan within the facility which is under threat of closure. A questionnaire which is biased towards the new project. Showing the pools we have at present in the worst possible light.

I don't want a new centre - full stop. Why should I give my opinion on where the centre I don't want should be located? There are figures mentioned with no supporting evidence - 10 million to bring each centre up to standard - how are these estimates arrived at?

I believe the costing for a new facility will in fact prove to be an underestimate. The final cost, as with most projects will grow and grow funding will not be available and as this happens costs to the ratepayer will increase and the specification promised will be reduced. We will end up with something much less than originally promised.

As regards some of the recent negative publicity in the local press regarding the lack of cleanliness of the facilities. I have never found this to be the case.

Please fight to ensure that the three centres are kept open.