Council votes to progress Cappagh aquatic centre

From this week’s Galway City Tribune – The city’s only publicly-owned swimming pool, Leisureland in Salthill, will lose €40,000 income every year, if and when Galway City Council builds a new pool at Cappagh Park.

Despite the warning, councillors voted by a 17-1 majority in favour of progressing the Regional Aquatic and Fitness Centre in Cappagh Park to the next phase.

Only Mayor of Galway, Mike Cubbard (Ind) voted against, citing concerns about a private company operating a publicly-funded building, the proximity of the new pool to Leisureland, and the lack of funding for other sports facilities in the city.

In a preliminary design unveiled to councillors, the new facility would boast a 34m x 25m pool with a 1.8m boom and moveable floor on five lanes. It would allow for waterpolo competitions to be played.

It would have a café, two studios, four courts, a 100-station fitness gym and a drama or sound studio. As well as the existing 3G pitch, a five-a-side 3G football pitch would be built and the current playground relocated.

Consultants said they ruled out a 50-metre pool, which is an Olympic-sized facility, because of the cost of a bigger pool and the restricted size of the site.

Councillors voted for an option which involves the City Council financing the design and build of the proposed new facilities, and then handing it over to a private company to maintain and operate.

Under this option, proposed by Cllr Peter Keane (FF) and seconded by Donal Lyons (Ind), the Council absorbs the risk of any potential cost overruns at the construction stage.

Cllr Keane said he was not interested in profit, and under this option, the Council builds the facility and secures a social dividend through a long-term lease agreement that ensures public hours of usage.

“And they [the private operator] take all the risk [associated with running the new facility],” said Cllr Keane.
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