Bank holiday leisure centre closures spark mixed reaction

Three of Northern Ireland's councils are closing their leisure centres, and a fourth will close all but one on Monday's May Bank Holiday.

Some leisure centre users have criticised the closures on a day when many people are off work and children are off school.

Causeway Coast and Glens, Mid and East Antrim and Fermanagh and Omagh council's leisure facilities are all closed on Monday. Fermanagh's Lakeland Forum is already closed due to redevelopment.

All but one leisure centre in Ards and North Down are closing, with the Bangor Aurora Aquatic and Leisure Complex staying open.

The other seven councils are opening their centres fully, closing some venues or operating at reduced hours.

Some users of council venues affected spoke to told BBC News NI.

Charlie Flynn said she would have been taking her daughter Lana to a gymnastics class at the leisure complex in Newtownards on Monday.

"It's a good place, a good leisure centre and all the kids enjoy coming here, so it's a day they could have been open and the kids could have been out enjoying themselves," she told BBC News NI.

In Comber, Tom Wright said he had been aware the town's leisure centre would be closing.

"I don't see why they couldn't have opened it up given that it is a bank holiday and a lot of people are off and could have taken their kids down to the soft play area, a game of badminton or, like myself, go to the gym.

"But then again, it's a public holiday and these guys who work here are entitled to a wee day off as well."

He said he is not "up in arms" about it and can see both sides.

Wendy Lyons is a teacher and was attending a football tournament at the Newtownards centre.

"It's such a wonderful resource right on our doorstep and a new facility and obviously with the children being off on Monday, you would expect it to be open for parents to bring their children," she said.

She said it was disappointing, but added that she understood staff were needed to have it "running efficiently".

Darlene Garston uses the centre with her grandson Bertie and said it was news to her that it would be closed on Monday.

"We would use the soft play quite a bit and it's good that the facilities are there, especially at weekends and bank holidays, it's somewhere that families can go," she said.

"It's a very handy place to take the kids, they love it."

Another leisure centre user, Carol, said it was disappointing.

"It's a leisure facility and people have their leisure on a bank holiday," she said.

"I suppose I do understand it, but I think there are ways round it - there's enough staff in there for them to effectively phase the holiday so that they're not totally closing for the public," she added.

Karen Hynds is from Coleraine in County Londonderry and uses the town's leisure centre every week.

"I don't mind missing out because I know what it's like for workers. I work in retail and I know they deserve a break," she told BBC News NI.

Susan and Elaine regularly attend badminton and said they are missing out on a class on Monday evening due to it being closed.

Susan said the pair would prefer it was open.

"The older ladies in particular were giving off about that because they really do value their exercise and try to stay active".

Laura Wragg from Ballymoney said the decision to close the leisure centres in Causeway Coast and Glens is "quite daft".

She said she would have considered using the facilities with her two-year-old daughter had they been open.

"Bank holidays would be the most popular day to take your family out because everyone's off and you want to take your wee ones out to go for a swim."

In Carrickfergus, part of Mid and East Antrim, there has been a mixed reaction to the closure of the leisure centre on the bank holiday.

Marta Majore said that she is a typical "gym girl" who uses the leisure centre up to six times a week.

She said it would be nice to when the kids were off school to take them to their local leisure centre.

Local man Kenneth Grealey said the decision as "absolutely fine".

"I think the workers there deserve their bank holiday off as well," he added.

Julia Miller, who uses the leisure centre weekly, has a similar opinion, she told BBC News NI that "everyone deserves a holiday."

Vilma Thompson said she comes to the leisure centre three times a week but the closure on the bank holiday Monday will not impact her and she is happy to go on a different day.

For Lorna Cameron, also from Carrick, the closure of the leisure centre will impact her.

"We use it very regularly on Mondays. Not just for the gym but for our tai chi classes. Mondays in May are a dead loss to us now."

But Ms Cameron added that she understands "people need to have their bank holidays" and praised the staff.

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council: The borough's leisure centres will be open on Monday 5 May, although some will operate with reduced hours

Valley, Antrim Forum & Sixmile, 8:00 – 16:00

Crumlin, 9:00 – 16:00

Ballyearl, open as normal – 9:00 – 22:00

Allen Park, open as normal 7:00 – 22.15

Ards and North Down: Blair Mayne Wellbeing and Leisure Complex, Comber Leisure Centre, Portaferry Sports Centre and Londonderry Park and Queen's Leisure Centre in Holywood will also shut its doors for the day

Bangor Aurora Aquatics and Leisure Complex, and Queens Leisure Complex will open

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council: Banbridge, Orchard and South Lake leisure centres will be open, although some smaller centres will close

Belfast City Council:

Open as usual: Olympia, Lisnasharragh, Templemore Baths

Reduced hours: Andersonstown, Ballysillan, Brook, Girdwood, Whiterock, Better Gym Connswater, Better Gym Belfast

Closed: Avoniel, Belvoir, Falls, Grove, Ozone, Shankill

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council: All leisure facilities will be closed on Monday 5 May.

Derry City and Strabane District Council:

Open: Riverside Leisure Centre, Melvin Arena, Derg Valley Leisure, Waterside Shared Village

Closed: Bishop's Field, Brooke Park, City Baths, Templemore Sports Complex

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council: Broadmeadow Fitness, Omagh Leisure Complex, Bawnacre Centre and Castle Park Leisure Centre are closed on Monday 5 May

Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council: Lagan Valley LeisurePlex will be open from from 9am to 6pm, Dundonald International Ice Bowl will be open from 9am to 10pm, Lough Moss leisure centre is open from 9:00 BST to 18:00

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council: The council's three leisure centres - Amphitheatre, Carrickfergus, Larne Leisure Centre and the Seven Towers Leisure Centre, Ballymena, will be closed on Monday 5 May

Mid Ulster District Council: The council's wet centres - Cookstown Leisure Centre, Dungannon Leisure Centre and Greenvale Leisure Centre - will open from 12:30 - 19:00 on Monday 5 May and all other leisure facilities will be closed

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council:

Open: Newry, Down & Kilkeel Leisure Centres from 9:30 - 16:00

Closed: Ballymote Sports & Wellbeing Centre, Newcastle Centre and St. Colman Sports Complex

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council said the council has undertaken an analysis of usage on bank holidays which concluded that opening of leisure centres did not represent value to the rate payer.

"This position is always subject to review in light of changing trends in recreational activity," a spokewoman said.

Ards and North Down Borough Council said the closures were "in line with the council's budget setting".

It added: "Since the council merger in 2015, Ards and North Down Borough Council has ensured there is access to facilities, including on the May Bank Holiday, to assist with providing an efficient and cost-effective leisure service.

This is provided by Northern Community Leisure Trust and its operating partner Serco Leisure, who will open Bangor Aurora Aquatic and Leisure Complex.

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council said the Amphitheatre, in Carrickfergus, and Larne Leisure Centre had a legacy arrangement where they were closed all bank holidays, with the Seven Towers Leisure Centre in Ballymena previously closing some but not all statutory days.

"The Council approved leisure centre closures on statutory days for all three leisure centres in April 2023 as part of regularisation across the three leisure centres and as part of efficiency measures."

Causeway Coast and Glens has also been contacted for comment.