New leisure facility in Craigavon opens its doors despite Covid restrictions

Northern Ireland has a new multi-million pound leisure facility as the South Lake Leisure Centre in Craigavon opened its doors today despite the on-going Covid-19 pandemic.
By The Newsroom
Published 2nd Nov 2020, 05:30 GMT
Gym facilities at the new leisure centreGym facilities at the new leisure centre
Gym facilities at the new leisure centre

The centre has opened in line with current public health guidelines.

The expansive state-of-the-art facility is home to a brand new 50-metre, eight-lane swimming pool and 1,000m2 gym and is open seven days a week on a pre-booking basis.

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Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council says it has opened the facility with a future-proofed model to meet the needs of a growing population and increased demand for a range of leisure, amateur and professional sporting enthusiasts regionally.

Advanced booking is required to safely access the gym and to enjoy lane swimming in the pool at this time. All other facilities will remain closed temporarily and until coronavirus restrictions are lifted.

Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Cllr Kevin Savage, said: “First envisaged a decade ago, I’m delighted that this impressive community facility is now safely open for everyone to enjoy in line with public health guidelines.”

Construction of the multi-million-pound transformative build project got underway early in 2018, creating 500 jobs on site during construction. Additional employment opportunities have also been created in a range of areas.

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The sports and leisure provision also features a multi-court sports hall, squash courts, a group cycle studio, dance studio, a health and wellbeing suite, and an on-site café in a cutting-edge building specifically designed for people with disabilities providing accessibility for all users.

Last month, the council appointed the local service provider and social enterprise incredABLE to operate the new café and a suite of hospitality services at the new centre.

The café is now open for takeaways only and until current restrictions are lifted.

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Related topics:South Lake Leisure CentreArmagh CityCraigavonNorthern IrelandCraigavon Borough CouncilBanbridge