Tories pledge to stop £40m leisure centre
A Tory leader has vowed to stop the building of a new £40 million leisure centre in its tracks if he takes control of South Ayrshire Council next year.
It is unlikely construction will start on the new swimming pool before the next council election in May, 2022.
Tory councillor Martin Dowey said even if the Arran Mall is demolished to make way for the new facility he will halt all plans and build houses instead.
Ruling SNP and Labour councillors want the leisure hub erected to replace the rundown Citadel - and believe it could help bring more people to the High Street.
Ayr West councillor Martin Dowey said: “If the Conservatives get into administration and even if they have knocked down the Arran Mall, we will build council and affordable houses there. We would move council staff into Hourstons to get more footfall in the town centre. We would then go ahead with our £9 million plan to refurbish the Citadel.”
He described the proposed leisure centre as a “white elephant.”
Councillor Dowey added: “We want to encourage business in the High Street. We need footfall and cars back in the High Street with free parking for an hour.”
He claimed an Olympicsized pool had been part of the proposals but that has evaporated. Now the biggest pool is set to measure 25 x 17 metres, according to a council report. That falls short of an Olympian sized pool - spanning 50 metres in length and 25 metres in width. The ruling SNP and Labour councillors gave officers the go-ahead to progress the pool development plans at a Leadership Panel meeting.
Another report is due to go in front of the panel in March 2022 detailing exact costs before the first brick is laid. The council has already splashed out £621,500 on Hourstons and set aside £3.7 million to buy the Arran Mall - to make room for the leisure hub.
A council report raised challenges with developing the site - including the conservation setting, high water-table, nearby developments and multiple entrance points.
Council leader Peter Henderson asked why the Conservatives did not challenge the leisure centre proposal after last month’s Leadership Panel.
He said: “Why did Councillor Dowey not call the paper in? The paper was presented to the Leadership Panel. They had three days to call it in.
“WThe leisure centre plans are progressing now. We are trying to regenerate the town centre. There are ongoing problems at the Citadel. It is an eyesore and is not in the town centre.”