Agenda item

         The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report

1.1       This report is to inform Committee of an option to provide temporary transport and associated costs to shuttle users affected by the closure of Andersonstown Leisure Centre to alternative leisure centres at Whiterock Leisure Centre and/or Falls Leisure Centre.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to

            Consider the proposal and recommend whether or not it wishes officers to implement provision of transport on a pilot basis as outlined.

            Overview

3.1       Andersonstown LC closed for redevelopment under the LTP on 28 May 2017.  At the time it was suggested that temporary shuttle transport should be considered to take users affected by the closure to alternative centres.

3.2       A large percentage of users/members and user groups were retained after the Andersonstown closure as alternative accommodation and access were made available at other BCC centres.  Mostly Brook, Whiterock, Falls and Olympia.

3.3       Having reviewed user trends at Andersonstown LC and Whiterock LC peak usage times for fitness suite throughput, swimming pool use and casual activities has been established.

3.4       It is extremely difficult to establish convenient transport services for all eventualities as by its nature ‘casual use’ is sporadic and spread throughout the day.  The provision of an extensive service throughout the day would be cost prohibitive and unlikely to be justified by demand.  Similar service provision was put in place following closure of the Robinson Centre in 2016 but withdrawn after a trial period as demand proved to be virtually non-existent.  However, it should be accepted that local conditions, user patterns and the location of alternative centres may result in a different response in West Belfast.

            Proposal

3.5       It is proposed that a shuttle bus service is established to take users from the Andersonstown site to Whiterock and/or Falls could be provided based on the following nine runs per week:

            Morning

            8.30am - 9.30am Tuesday and Thursday

            Lunch Time- Adult only swim lanes

            12.00pm - 1.00pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday

            Evening

            7.00pm - 8.00pm Wednesday

            7.00pm - 8.00pm Friday

            Weekend

            12.00pm - 1.30pm Saturday

            2.00pm - 3.30pm Sunday

            The route will be established with a number of pick up/set down points.

3.6       As actual demand will be unknown until evidence from a trial period is available it is proposed that a service should be considered on a temporary basis with monthly review points at which future provision can be assessed and revised.

            Closure Dates

3.7       Andersonstown LC will be closed during the new build programme for a period of 2 years up to the anticipated opening of the new centre in late 2019.

3.8       Finance and Resource Implications

            The estimated cost of providing a shuttle bus service based on the above schedule is set out in Table 1 below.  Costs are provided for three different bus capacities and are per single return run, weekly cost and total two-year cost based of 2 X 48 week years (96 weeks) for routes from Andersonstown to Whiterock and separately from Andersonstown to Falls.

3.9       The current budget established within the mobilisation budget is £15,000 to cover three years.  As the budget would only sustain the services for a few months, the review after the first month will be used to inform the budgetary position going forward.

            Table 1:

3.10     Equality or Good Relations Implications

            The temporary transport service is aimed at improving accessibility to local leisure services by addressing gaps caused by the closure of Andersonstown Leisure centre. There are no known equality or good relations implications.”

            The Committee agreed to implement the provision of transport to shuttle users affected by the closure of the Andersonstown Leisure Centre to alternative leisure centres at Whiterock Leisure Centre and /or Falls Leisure Centre.  This would be on a pilot basis throughout the month of January 2018 with an update report to be considered at the February meeting.