Welcome investment but why is extra funding needed for leisure centre maintenance?

A Newry City councillor has confirmed that Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is to invest £60,000 into maintaining leisure centre equipment, at its own leisure centres, begging the question ‘is maintenance not included in the leisure centre budgets?’ 

“It’s great to see that an additional £60,000 has been made available for the maintenance of equipment in our leisure centres,” said Sinn Féin councillor Aidan Mathers.

“The number of damaged machines, and the time taken to repair them, was a key issue raised by users of Newry Leisure Centre in particular.

“Ensuring ratepayers have access to first-class facilities and services is a priority for Me, and for Sinn Féin locally.” 

While Cllr Mathers said he would continue working to press senior council management to ensure they use the funding to tackle the issues around damaged equipment in leisure centres, why has he to ask or seek additional monies for maintenance of equipment at council leisure centres - particularly Newry?

Surely as standard with any business, the annual maintenance budget for leisure centres includes maintenance, repair and replacement (if necessary) of equipment and also includes ‘just in case’ or ‘rainy day’ additional monies.

Was it a case of budgets being cut in recent years that a councillor’s intervention is now required to have equipment repaired?

Crucially, have leisure management explained why equipment hasn’t been maintained and are there assurances in writing that this situation won’t arise again?

Newry.ie put those questions to the Sinn Féin councillor. While not addressing the issues around budgeting or assurances from leisure management in his response, Cllr Mathers said: “This funding has been put in place to allow for maintenance of equipment while a new contract is secured which will ensure the delivery and maintenance of new equipment across both leisure centres.

“Addressing users’ issues with Newry Leisure Centre is a priority for Sinn Féin. We will continue to engage regularly with residents for accurate feedback on any issues with the centre and hold the council to account over resolving these issues.”