Three ’emerging’ options are being considered for the Galleon Leisure Centre in Kilmarnock.At the final East Ayrshire Council meeting of 2023, councillors heard that officers were evaluating proposals that will provide increasing levels of ‘intervention’ to address issues such as the condition of the centre and the changing needs of local people.A year ago the council agreed to restart the refurbishment and repurposing of the Galleon, with several proposals made including a new gym and fitness suite, health suite and café, kids zone, meeting facilities and upgrades to pools, changing rooms, ice rink and bowling hall.However, the rising costs of between £20m to £25m meant that not all of the proposals would be feasible.
The report to council said that a detailed stage one design report has now identified ‘three emerging feasibility options based on a tiered approach for increasing levels of intervention’.It added that information contained within the Stage 1 report is currently being reviewed and a further update report will be presented to members in due course.
The project will also have to take into account a review of leisure-related services, agreed by the council in October.A tentative timescale suggests that the newly refurbished centre could be finished by December 2026.
The need to improve the Galleon followed an assessment in 2018, which highlighted the deterioration of the building, which was opened in 1987.At that time officials had recommended building a new centre at the Galleon site, at an estimated cost of £33m.
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