By Joe McCann
THE cost of repairing the Aurora Leisure Centre after it was badly damaged during Storm Eowyn earlier this year is expected to be over £800,000.
The Bangor leisure complex suffered serious damage to its roof during the January storm, the second time in four years that a storm had caused damage to the complex.
Repair work is ongoing and councillors on Ards and North Down Council’s Environment Committee were recently told that the bill has so far cost £602,000. However, council officials confirmed that the bill is expected to go as high as £830,000, although it is hoped to recoup the money through an ongoing insurance claim.
The cost of the repairs at Aurora has pushed the council’s annual maintenance budget into the red to the tune of £533,000.
The budget shortfall was also affected by other matters such as £449,000 spent on ongoing technical and and maintenance issues throughout the borough, as well as £67,000 on other maintenance, £49,000 on utilities, £16,000 on harbours in Donaghadee and Groomsport and £59,000 on vehicle maintenance costs.
When councillors queried the figures at last week’s meeting all debate was closed down until later in the session when the media and public had been excluded.
Before the debate was curtailed, UUP councillor Craig Blaney asked if the insurance claim was successful, and the council received the full amount from the claim, would it push the budget back into positive figures.
Council confirmed it would bring the budget back into the black, but again refused to elaborate further while the meeting was in public session.
