There has been a recommendation to close three Co Armagh leisure centres - and replace them with a single 'super centre'

Hundreds of construction jobs will result from the plan in Craigavon if it proceeds, with the possibility that it would also pave the way for councils across Northern Ireland to follow.

Craigavon is one of NI's most populous council areas with the bid to replace its three leisure centres with a single, £30m complex up for a vote.

It has been shown that it would cost more to refurbish the three existing centres than it would to close them and build a new, state-of-the-art facility instead.

Craigavon Borough Council's Leisure Services Committee voted unanimously last week to close the centres in Portadown, Lurgan and central Craigavon and build the new facility on the banks of the Craigavon Lakes, adjacent to the Civic Centre.

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The move follows six months of consultation with the general public and with clubs using the three centres. And while the public vote was split down the middle, sports clubs came out decisively in favour of the new centre.

A report prepared by the consultants, Mace Group, recommended the single centre, pointing out that the three existing facilities were out-dated and that it would take more than £26m to bring them up to scratch – their findings were unanimously supported by the committee.

The move is expected to be ratified by the full council at a meeting on April 7.

The changes would take around five years, but Craigavon Council would be joined with neighbouring Armagh and Banbridge in one of the new, so-called super-councils by then as local government is reorganised.

It has been said that it takes around £2m a year to run the three existing centres, and these costs would be halved at least with the new innovation.

The proposed new centre will include an 25-metre, eight-lane championship-type swimming pool, with moveable floors to reduce and increase depth; a diving area; an eight-court sports hall; fitness suites; a climbing wall; children's facilities; outdoor facilities and a water centre tailored in with the nearby lakes.

(BMcC/GK)