Published The Extra On Line

By John A. MacInnes

Published: 08:28 Monday 24 June 2019

Eastwood leisure centre proposal to go before councillors

Proposals to agree to build a new state-of-the-art Eastwood leisure centre and theatre in Eastwood Park will go before councillors on Wednesday (June 26).

East Renfrewshire Council will be asked to approve Eastwood Park as the preferred site for a new-build leisure centre and theatre at the meeting.

If approved, it would mean that neither Shawwood Park nor Broomburn Park would need to be considered as potential options and would remain as protected urban green space.

A six-week consultation held in May/June 2018 showed that 87 per cent of residents who responded supported new leisure facilities within the Eastwood area being created to meet the future needs of people in the area.

In October last year Councillors asked the Council’s Director of Environment to specifically explore how feasible it would be to build a new leisure centre and theatre in Eastwood Park.

The new proposal going before councillors next week outlines that whilst a significantly improved facility could be built within Eastwood Park, it would not be possible to include four additional pitches.

Whilst there would be challenges working around the site constraints, it is proposed that the new centre could still include a six-lane 50m swimming pool, additional teaching pool and flumes, spectator seating area, 140-station gym, spin studio, six-court sports hall, theatre space, health suite, café, multifunctional cultural space and an interactive play area.

The proposed new facility could potentially be built over two floors at a site adjacent to the current facility, allowing it to continue operating during the construction period and ensuring there would be no major disruption to leisure provision during this time.

As part of a wider masterplan for Eastwood Park, the vision is to develop improved outdoor space that can enjoyed by people working within the park and for those who visit and use it for recreational purposes.

East Renfrewshire Council’s Director of Environment Andrew Cahill said: “A considerable amount of detailed work has been carried out in relation to the possibility of a new-build leisure centre and theatre within Eastwood Park, keeping as far as possible to the original specification. This has been challenging and there will be some compromises but the proposal going before councillors still offers the potential to provide a modern, vastly improved leisure facility within the park, although it would not be possible to include any additional outdoor pitches. It is for councillors to decide if this proposal should be progressed.”

If councillors agree the recommendations being put forward, then a further report outlining the detailed options and costs will be brought back before them in due course.