Sports centre plans are top of the range

THREE initial design options for redeveloping the Townfoot Sports Centre in Langholm have gone on display.

The trio of designs is published in the centre pages of today’s E&L Advertiser, along with an artist’s impressions of the outside of the building.

The project’s volunteer working group is now seeking the views of the community on which one of the three designs is preferred.

For this initial feedback period the group would like comments by July 20 and it will consolidate and provide replies by the end of the month.

Although the current COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions have caused some delays to the Townfoot Sports Centre redevelopment project, the group is pleased to report that it’s making progress with the design feasibility study.

The day-to-day activities for the project are managed and co-ordinated by the group which engaged Robert Potter & Partners of Dumfries to provide design consultancy services for the design feasibility study.

The group’s mission is to develop and operate a first-class modern community-led sports centre which will benefit the general well-being and welfare of the wider community in Langholm and Eskdale.

The redeveloped sports centre will also bring employment and support Langholm’s economic regeneration.

The three initial design options try to incorporate the feedback from the community survey in June 2019.

The group believes the design options are bold and ambitious.

They give a sense of community pride, offer quality and attractive facilities, make use of renewable energy sources to power the centre, maximise efficient use of the available plot and maximise use of the existing building.

Each of the design options has a modern and efficient multi-use changing village which can be divided into dedicated zones for use by male / female or special activity user groups.

The changing area will have unisex changing and shower cubicles comprising single, double and family, along with accessible changing with showers.

This modern design provides individual privacy for all user groups, while still providing a comfortable and safe changing environment.

The drawings show a gym on the existing first floor, the old gym area, but the space will be expanded and completely refurbished and modernised.

The design options are also available to view in the window of Welcome to Langholm and on the sports centre Facebook page.

The working group welcomes any comments or suggestions and will share this feedback with the wider community in the near future.

It will also report on its conclusions and recommendations for the redevelopment as well as the options for funding for the project.

Feedback can be given on the Facebook page Townfoot Sports Centre or by emailing townfootsportscentre@gmail.com

The project acknowledges and appreciates the support of local trusts and companies and Dumfries and Galloway Council which has given funding to the project.

They are the Arthur Bell of Langholm Trust, Ashleybank Investments Limited, Bowman Little Trust Fund, Stevenson Trust, Stoneypath Trust and Dumfries and Galloway town centre capital fund.