Kilkeel Leisure Centre will be closed from Monday to allow for preparatory work for its impending multimillion-pound refurbishment to take place.
The facility modernisation project, which is expected to take 12 months to complete, was originally scheduled to begin in July, though this was delayed, allowing the centre to remain open over the summer months.
On Monday, the council ratified a committee decision to finalise the appointment of a contractor and aims to hand the facility over to the successful tenderer on 22 September after undertaking various preparations, including the auction of exercise equipment.
A 30 per cent increase in the cost of the project – which will see it rise from £3.3m to approximately £4.3m – was also agreed at the meeting.
The final green lighting of the works has been welcomed by Mournes councillors Michael Rice (Sinn Féin) and Glyn Hanna (DUP).
Cllr Rice said that the closure of the facility will ultimately “allow the long-awaited refurbishment project to get under way” and that it “marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Kilkeel”.
“The leisure centre is a vital space where families, young people and individuals of all ages come together to enjoy sport, fitness and recreation,” he continued.
Cllr Hanna stated that the local DUP team is “delighted that Kilkeel Leisure
Centre’s long overdue redevelopment has finally got the green light at full council to progress works”.
In the full article read further opinion on what the development will affect the area.
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