THE Bo’ness Recreation Centre is to close due to condition concerns, Falkirk Council has announced.
An independent survey was undertaken on the facility as part of the local authority’s strategic property review. Surveyors reported that the building was category D, which is ‘life expired and/or serious risk of imminent failure; risk of injury’.
The report went on to say that a detailed condition survey identified urgent repair needs – including corroded electrical wiring and cracks in the pool wall, as well as issues with the boilers, lighting, and heating plant. The estimated cost for the repair work required would exceed £4 million.
In a subsequent report, council officials have recommended that £3 million of funding should instead be invested in community access to sport and leisure facilities at secondary schools in the Falkirk Council area – including Bo’ness Academy, with it suggested that an extension to the school be undertaken to accommodate new facilities to meet local demand.
Councillor Cecil Meiklejohn, leader of Falkirk Council, said, “We are very much aware of the community’s feelings over the closure of Bo’ness Recreation Centre. However, looking at the facts presented in an independent surveyor’s report simply leaves us with no options here.
“The report has highlighted many issues that we cannot ignore from the perspective of the future safety of our customers and our employees.
“As a council, we cannot continue to simply spend money when alternatives can be found and in the case of Bo’ness Recreation Centre, it would take an investment of at least £4 million to simply fix the issues but not see any improvement for our customers.
“What we want to focus on is investment in more suitable locations including Bo’ness that will see better access to sports and leisure facilities that can have decades of a life span unlike Bo’ness Rec which is at the end of its useful life.
“We have asked for a report to be brought back no later than June of this that will outline what can be achieved with the £3 million of funding being made available.”
