Menu
 
Home | News | Swimming and tennis may be big attractions: Project to reopen sports centre is ready to run feasibility study
 
News | 11th April 2019
 

Swimming and tennis may be big attractions: Project to reopen sports centre is ready to run feasibility study

 
 
 

A FEASIBILITY study into whether the sports centre in Townfoot can be reopened and run as a community enterprise is out of the starting blocks.
Campbell Scott of the Langholm Initiative, who is managing the project, told community councillors he hoped to have the feasibility study completed in August.
He said the project was in the “embryonic stage” and the study would begin this month.
Among the factors contributing to the project’s success were community support and establishing a working group.
The intention at the moment was to set up an SCIO (Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation) to run the centre.
Mr Scott said that Ashleybank Investments, which owned the building, had indicated the centre would have a 25-year lease, much like the Studio.
The centre was closed at the end of February by Edinburgh Woollen Mill and a public meeting held to find out whether there was support to reopen it and the type of activities people would like to do.
Among the suggestions are a soft play area and climbing wall, along with the gym, the expansion of the swimming pool and the upgrading of the tennis courts.
Mr Scott said: “One key aspect of the study will be a much more detailed survey which will go into every household to determine what people would like to see and how much they’d be willing to pay.
“We’ve made it clear that if the project is not feasible, not economically viable, we’ll walk away.
“We won’t do that easily and we won’t give up at the first hurdle but, at the same time, if the community doesn’t want it or it’s not viable, we won’t continue. We should know before the end of the year.
“There are lots of good ideas about the redevelopment but we’ve not agreed anything yet.
“The project execution plan is a live document and will be updated as the project goes through its various stages.”
Consultants
Mr Scott added that they had not sought funding yet. They would need money for consultants, although they intended to do a lot of work themselves.
It had been suggested they attend a funders’ forum which was due to meet at the end of May.
John Galloway, chairman, said: “I think it’s a worthwhile project and I can’t imagine that the community would not want to retain the centre.
“What you’ve prepared so far shows a great deal of commitment to the project and I thank you for that.
“I hope it’s successful and that we’ll see movement in the right direction.”
Councillor Ronnie Tait, Annandale East and Eskdale, asked whether they intended to make any structural changes with regard to the swimming pool, tennis courts or squash courts.
Mr Scott said it had not been discussed yet. The squash courts were not used but that didn’t mean they couldn’t be rejuvenated or one converted into some other use.
He thought that if the pool was made larger and staffed, it would attract more clientele. Nowhere else in the town had a pool or tennis courts so they were an attraction.
He added: “We want to complement and integrate with other places in town, like the Eskdale sports centre. We also want to have more flexible subscriptions, including pay at the door for visitors to the town.”
The triangular field next to the centre might also be available to use.

 
 
Would you like to support us?

The Eskdale and Liddesdale Advertiser is our community owned local newspaper and even in today’s troubled times, we aim to bring you local news and articles in an impartial, responsible and factual way.

We hope you have enjoyed reading this free article but we need your support so we can keep delivering quality journalism that’s open and independent and keeps you up to date with what is happening in Eskdale and Liddesdale.

Every reader’s contribution, however big or small, is so valuable to us.
 
 
‘Owned by the Community...Published for the Community’
Do you have a story?

Please get in touch if you have a story or article you would like to see published.

Related Articles

‘Is our voice even heard?’

NHS Dumfries and Galloway executives attend first of hopefully many…

 

Road safety concerns at Langholm Primary school

Concerned parents have produced a detailed report on the alarming…

 

High heid yins head for Thomas Hope meeting

Meeting with Health and Social Care to thrash out Langholm’s…

 

Having a final say on the future of Holm Hill

Newcastleton and District Community Trust is just about to carry…

 

Love, a dance and a right good belly laugh!

With a large cast and great audiences, LAODS’ Last Tango…

 

Share in windfarm leadsto green awards nomination

Nick Jennings’ foresight puts Eskdalemuir in the running The Upper…

 

Langholm Alliance: Update on Community Plan

Donna Hislop, Community Enterprise Manager, brings us up to speed…

 

Musical excellence delights Canonbie audience

Splendid concert brings church’s 200 year celebrations to a close…

 

Langholm Moor Lynx fears are calmed... for the moment

Fears that the new owners of former farmland on Langholm…

 

Oxygen Man links lynx to Langholm Moor

Blackburn & Hartsgarth owner says it’s a possibility Could former…

 

Post Office's future discussed at meeting

Canonbie residents gather to hear the options for valuable village…

 

Scottish call-up forathlete sisters

Langholm siblings make the Scottish Pentathlon team SCOTTISH CALL UP…

 

Langholm familiarisation visit for Council leader

Gail Macgregor, leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council was invited…

 

Further afforestation fury

Tree planting nightmare for a further three farms surrounding Claygate…

 

Moderator inspires worshipers at Canonbie

Church is packed to hear uplifting service from church leader…

 

Public meeting on future of Canonbie Post Office

Following the news that Canonbie Post Office and shop were…

 

Urgent action required in face of diminished services

1,000+ signature petition endorses demands Langholm’s ailing health services are…

 

Rothbury 'Looks North' to Langholm for guidance

The team at BBC look North got in touch with…

 

High profile minister to visit Canonbie

Anthony Lane tells of perfect ending to Church’s bi-centenary events…

 

Appeal for help with gardens

Margaret Pool writes; A number of folk will recall that…

 

Langholm Flood Scheme dead in the water

Plug pulled on original £10 million defences In last week’s…

 

A celebration of some amazing achievements

Langholm Academy pupils shine with some spectacular exam results and…

 

Old Copshaw hostlery closes its doors

One of Newcastleton’s longest-established businesses has closed down. The Liddesdale…

 

Xcel is eighteen!

This week marks 18 years of the Xcel Project! The…

 

Doing the Wright thing for Sycamore Gap

Amazing offer by Canonbie Sawmill owners Canonbie sawmill owners Steve…

 

Ultra-cool Ullswater adventures

Langholm S6 pupils enjoy a week of outdoor antics and…

 

Umbrella walkers raise over £30k

Rotary and Trusts-backed fundraiser breaks another record The Langholm Rotary…

 

Conan has Carolina on his mind

Langholm athlete settled on Charleston SouthernUniversity having had seventy offers…

 

Loreburn remains 'wholly committed' to Murtholm

E&L interviews housing association chief executive Kirsteen McGinn The E&L…

 

Had by Haddington

Slow start for Langholm gives home side the advantage but…

 

The 171st Langholm Show

The day of the 171st Langholm Show dawned and Langholm…

 

Sensational new sensory room for Langholm Youth project

Xcel has provided one of the best publicly accessible sensory…

 

Langholm Forum contacts Holyrood

Warbla petition prompts invitation to Gougeon Following an excellent response…

 

It’s been all go on Langholm Showfield this week.

A veritable army of willing volunteers and committee members has…

 

All our rugby yesteryears

A great afternoon at Hawick and Wilton Cricket Club on…

 

Cammy Barnes LOVES Langholm x

Last Friday, The Buccleuch Centre opened it’s doors to welcome…

 

Indefinite delay for Murtholm development

Loreburn announce moratorium on new-builds But promise Langholm project is…

 

Flat roof problems for Langholm's Primary school

Wet rot and

From no RAAC one week to wet rot and water…

 

Erskine Church saga reaches the airwaves

Denise Irving-Lang to be interviewed by Radio Scotland It’s encouraging…

 

Eskdale & Liddesdale schools declared safe

Wet rot and

No RAAC detected in preliminary inspections Councillor Denis Male contacted…

 
 
requires mailchimp logins and wired up to a list
Join our mailing list
Keep up to date with all that’s going on at the E&L
This site uses cookies.
Configure
 
Read our privacy policy

This site uses cookies for marketing, personalisation, and analysis purposes. You can opt out of this at any time or view our full privacy policy for more information.