Published: Thursday, 26th March, 2009 6:30am

Closure fears for 'tired' sport centre dismissed

OFFICIALS responsible for Tranent"s Loch Centre, a facility described by a leading councillor as 'tired', have denied that the popular venue will be threatened by a new management regime in charge of East Lothian"s sports facilities.

The future of the Well Wynd centre was a hot topic last week at a meeting of Tranent and Elphinstone Community Council, whose members feared its survival would be at risk following the council-approved transfer of SportPlus - the body that manages the local authority"s sports centres and associated facilities - to a new leisure trust, to be overseen by a board of directors comprising East Lothian councillors and independent representatives.

As the community council discussed improvements planned for other county sports facilities, including a multi-million pound transformation of Meadowmill Sports Centre, some expressed concern that the 'tired' appearance of the Loch Centre would lead to a lack of investment in the facility - and its possible closure - by the new trust.

Community councillor Robert McNeill said: 'There have been experiences of trusts in the past where it"s led to things like closure of facilities, reduced opening hours and price hikes.

'The Loch Centre is one of the oldest sporting facilities in East Lothian and it remains a well-used amenity.'

TECC vice-chair Joan Ramsay highlighted the important role of the Loch Centre, which houses a 25-metre swimming pool, Bodyworks fitness suite, two meeting rooms and dance studios. It is seen as a central and easy-to-reach venue for residents of Tranent and the surrounding villages.

'It"s limited but it serves a purpose,' Mrs Ramsay said. Though she added: 'From a business side of things I can see why someone would want to close that centre.

'And I feel at the end of the day it may come down to pounds, shillings and pence and I worry that if it"s not cost effective then it will have to go.'

Councillor Paul McLennan, the council"s economic development spokesman, admitted the Loch Centre was 'looking tired' but said there were 'no plans' to shut it down.

Fa"side councillor Donald Grant added: 'It"s still a good building but it does need a lot of maintenance.'

SportsPlus manager Bill Axon dismissed the suggestion that the Loch Centre was in jeopardy, insisting that management officials were committed to continued improvements at the centre.

He told the Courier: 'The Loch Centre, which has approximately 100,000 visitors every year, is a pure community resource in the strictest sense - it"s not just about the sports activities that are available.

'Like most buildings with a 1960s design it is starting to look a bit tired but internally the vast majority of the facility is in very, very good condition and will continue to be upgraded throughout the years to come.

'There are certain areas within the facility that could do with a cosmetic uplift, such as the community wing, and I can say that that"s part of a conversation taking place among officials just now.

'Over the last three months we have spent a considerable amount of money upgrading the lift provisions within the facility and we are now turning our attention to replacing the boiler system.

'The Loch Centre, alongside our other five sites, is included in all the discussions we have when we are determining what our future priorities are.'