Urgent Shankill leisure centre meeting agreed over claims groups face losing hall

Belfast City Council has agreed an urgent meeting with leisure operator GLL for Monday 26 October, following claims that elderly and disabled groups will lose access to Shankill Leisure Centre’s hall from the start of November. DUP councillor Nicola Verner has called for imminent work to be suspended, Belfast Live reports.

The meeting will bring together councillors, council officials and GLL representatives. It was agreed at the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee on Friday 23 October.

Verner, who represents the Court area, said councillors had supported proposals in August to modernise the centre and convert its main hall for padel, on condition that existing users were consulted and no groups were displaced.

She told the committee that engagement had not taken place, but groups had been told they would no longer be able to use the hall from early November. Some of those raising concerns were elderly and disabled groups based locally, she said.

Verner asked GLL to provide details of its consultation, findings and recommendations, including which users it had spoken to and how many groups would be affected.

Padel plan ahead of wider redevelopment

Councillors agreed in September to an “interim” refurbishment before a larger transformation project for Shankill Leisure Centre.

Committee minutes released at the start of October record approval for changes to the reception and the introduction of padel in the main hall. GLL is to fund those measures through its investment programme.

The decisions followed a committee discussion closed to the public and press, covering business cases for both Shankill and Whiterock leisure centres. Councillors also agreed further visits to the two sites.

GLL, which operates under the “Better” brand, runs 16 Belfast leisure centres under a multi-year contract with the city council.

Source: Belfast Live