By Julie Waters
A CRUNCH vote on the future of leisure services across Ards and North Down has been described as ‘too close to call’.
Councillors will meet on September 18 to decide once and for all how the borough’s leisure centres and civic sports facilities will be run – a major decision that will have multi-million pound implications for ratepayers.
The council could take the decision to extend privatisation, which is currently operating across North Down, into the greater Ards area meaning Ards Blair Mayne Leisure Centre, Comber Leisure Centre and Portaferry Sports Centre could be outsourced to a private firm.
Alternatively, councillors could decide to return all leisure services in the borough ‘in-house’ or decide to maintain a hybrid system which has been in operation for many years.
At present, leisure services in the former Ards Borough Council area are delivered by the council while in the former North Down Borough Council area they have been contracted out to a private company. This hybrid system is a hangover from the days before the two councils were merged. However, there is a recognition within the council that this is deeply unsatisfactory.
In the run-up to the decision on September 18 the council has been holding workshops for the politicians who will make the decision and it is understood councillors have been urged not to continue with the hybrid system but to make a definitive decision on privatisation or in-house.
The Spectator understands that councillors will be given a free vote on September 18 and will not be subject to a party whip. Councillors have four choices on the table – complete outsourcing of all leisure services; bringing all leisure services back under council control; continuing with the hybrid system or switching to a local authority trading company.As the vote nears, a major geographical split has opened up among the 40 councillors in the chamber.
Politicians from the greater Ards area have always been opposed to the outsourcing of services at Ards Blair Mayne Leisure Centre, Comber Leisure Centre and Portaferry Sports Centre and are highly unlikely to support complete privatisation.
It is also understood that North Down’s two Green Party councillors, Lauren Kendall and Barry McKee are also opposed to any further outsourcing. However, councillors from the former North Down Borough Council who have lived with outsourced leisure services for many years, are believed to be in favour of complete privatisation.
There has been intense lobbying of local councillors in recent weeks, particularly those in the greater Ards area, and one local politician has said the vote is ‘too close to call’ and is almost ‘the toss of a coin’.There has been a vocal anti-privatisation campaign run by trade unions and the users of Ards Blair Mayne Leisure Centre, Comber Leisure Centre and Portaferry Sports Centre.
Strangford MP Jim Shannon has also strongly supported the drive to keep the Ards leisure centres under council control. Several hundred people gathered outside Bangor Castle last week to register their opposition to the privatisation proposal, even though the decision is not due to be taken for several weeks.
As councillors met inside for their regular monthly meeting on Wednesday night, staff from the Ards leisure centres were joined by Union representatives and local residents who make use of the leisure centres.
‘They are breaking their hearts’
Some elderly people who attend weekly Active Aging classes are ‘breaking their hearts’ over the ongoing uncertainty over the borough’s leisure services, it has been claimed.
Fitness instructor Debbie Quinn, has been teaching an array of classes designed to keep seniors healthy for over 47 years at both Ards Blair Mayne and Comber leisure centres, including chair fit, to dance fit and yin yoga. A number of her students, who regularly attend her classes, took part in the recent protest and called for the leisure services in the Ards area to remain under council control.
Local people have expressed concerns that should the leisure services be outsourced to a private operator this would mean a price hike in fees and a reduction in classes.
The local instructor decided to speak out after one of her class members was visibly upset after a class and revealed her anxiety saying ‘this is the only time I get to talk to someone in a week’. Debbie said: “I just wanted to let people know what is happening to the people who attend my classes, it is terrible, the ladies are breaking their hearts.
“They are really worried because they don’t know what to expect, it is the fear of the unknown.”
She explained that around 50 people regularly attend her classes which have both mental and physical benefits. She stressed that social connection is also vital for mental well-being. “The classes are about improving people’s mental health and reducing loneliness as well as maintaining your physical health.
“The benefits are incredible. We are tackling loneliness, we work on fall prevention, there is a lot of balance work, promoting mobility and flexibility.
“They want to get into their older years as fit as they can. Then they have a cup of tea together after their class, they have all really bonded.”
Find extensive coverage on this story in this week’s Spectator.
