Members of Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Health and Community Committee has approved a Council recommendation to close and demolish the Brandywell Sports Centre and proceed with a detailed programme of temporary relocation for existing user groups at the facility.
The Centre (pictured) has been closed for a number of months following a recent building structural and maintenance assessment where a number of health and safety implications were identified.
A robust health and safety management inspection also identified a number of issues at the facility that would require regular control intervention and result in partial and full closure of the facility on a frequent basis.
Chairman of the committee, Alderman Drew Thompson said that based on these findings it was agreed that the demolition of the premises and the temporary relocation of user groups was the most cost effective and beneficial decision for Council.
He added the operation of the facility was constrained by the non-sports specific design, age and condition of the building fabric, and there would be costs involved to meet current and anticipated health and safety and compliance standards.
He said that while planned preventative and remedial work programmes have kept the facility operational, there has been a series of short term closures with increasing frequency over recent years.
“This has an impact on user groups and whilst management arrangements to date have been effective in addressing this, the increasing frequency of closure and need for relocation of user groups raises issues of future sustainable programming. It was therefore agreed that the early demolition of the centre and the semi-permanent relocation of the user groups is the best way forward for Council.
“It will allow us to provide an immediate service improvement for existing user groups, allow us to look at the development of a new purpose built facility that is cost effective and suited to meet our needs. Any new facility would have wider benefits for the local community and have the potential to attract new user groups and individuals and have a significant impact on the wider regeneration of the Brandywell and wider area,” he said.
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