Title |
Closure of Auchinleck Pool and Relocation of of Services |
Lead officer(s) |
Blair Millar Head of Housing and Communities |
Telephone number |
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Email address |
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Date summary created |
18 Sep 2024 |
Date assessment completed |
18 Sep 2024 |
Summary of policy aims |
East Ayrshire Leisure Trust (EALT) operates a wide range of cultural, countryside, sports and community facilities on behalf of East Ayrshire Council (EAC). In the Auchinleck and Cumnock Area, EALT manages Auchinleck Leisure Centre (ALC) and the community facilities within the Barony along with various grass pitches, community venues, libraries and museums. ALC was part of the former Auchinleck Academy. The facilities include a 20 metre (4 lane) 3-metre-deep swimming pool, sports and gymnasium hall (with three badminton courts) and fullsize Synthetic Grass Pitches. It was a dual use site with the leisure centre operating from 5.30pm to 9.30pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 5pm at weekends. The school has been replaced by the Robert Burns Academy within the Barony Campus which formally opened in June 2021.
A feasibility study of Auchinleck Leisure Centre (ALC) was undertaken in January 2023. The purpose of this was to assist EALT and East Ayrshire Council in
forming an opinion on the future use of ALC. Specifically, to identify any potential development opportunities for the Centre which may enhance the current leisure service provision within EAC.
Following consultations, expert reviews and the results of our Cabinet discussions and decisions, and in recognition that the Council does not have the resources to maintain these facilities, we propose to close both the Leisure Centre and the pitches at the end of March 2024, with existing users transferring to alternative leisure facilities in the area. It`s the Council`s belief these facilities can provide an equivalent or even enhanced offer. |
Key issues |
All groups within ALC have been part of discussions and the majority of groups have agreed to relocate, with two in discussion, with a view of relocating.
Therefore services will still be provided and in some cases better levels of services will be available with longer opening hours with better accessibility. |
Summary of involvement with Groups |
A survey was available from Monday 18 December 2023 - 18:00 Hrs on Monday 22nd January 2024. All information was collated and inform the review of this EQIA, ensuring any representations received will be fed into this EQIA process. All information from the consultation will feed into this EQIA to ensure that all views. There were also three consultation events held locally.
There was planned consultation meetings with groups who use ALC and to members' residents and a survey was made available to all members of the public. Going forward a further three planned consultation events will take place and an on-line survey, all which are outlined above.
All groups within ALC have been part of discussions and the majority of groups have agreed to relocate, with two in discussion,
with a view of relocating. Therefore services will still be provided and in some cases better levels of services will be available with longer opening hours. |
Key recommendations |
To close ALC and relocate services to nearby areas with in some cases better levels of services will be available with longer opening hours and greater accessibility. |