Councillors call for review of 50m swimming pool

Councillors call for review of 50-metre swimming pool

50 metre pool debate reignites two years after being voted down

Ciara Galvin

PLANS to construct a 25 metre swimming pool in Castlebar have been thrown into doubt after a number of councillors called for the reconsideration of a larger 50 metre pool. Chairman of the Castlebar Municipal District Cllr Al McDonnell yesterday (Monday) called for the reconsideration of the advanced plans to build a 25 metre pool, in favour of reviewing a previous proposal for a 50 metre Olympic-sized swimming pool. The plan to construct a 50 metre pool came before the now defunct Castlebar Town Council in 2012 where the idea was proposed by Cllr Michael Kilcoyne (Ind), but was rejected in early 2013 when Sinn FeÍn councillor Thérèse Ruane cast the deciding vote against it. Cllr Ruane was again firm in her views on the matter of bringing Connacht’s first Olympic-sized swimming pool to Castlebar, citing that the running costs alone for the pool would be €400,000 annually. She added that Kilkenny, Galway and Derry city had also rejected plans to construct a pool of this size, as it was decided that it would not be feasible. Independent councillor Frank Durcan brought the matter up for discussion yesterday and said that the construction of the pool would create jobs, bring people from all over the country to Castlebar and fill the local bed and breakfasts and hotels. “If an Olympics was held in Europe again, swimmers could book into Castlebar … It’s fairly expensive for families to travel to Limerick [University of Limerick 50m pool],” said Cllr Durcan, adding that it was one of the ‘biggest disasters’ that the 25 metre pool was going to be built instead of the proposed 50 metre. Cllr Ruane said though she would love to support the motion, the €400,000 cost of running the larger pool per year was not possible and would result in Mayo County Council having to increase rates in the town in order to afford running costs. “If Derry, Galway and Kilkenny don’t have the population to support it, how could we? It would be a white elephant,” said Cllr Ruane. Cllr Kilcoyne said he fully supported the motion and said he had no doubt that An Taoiseach Enda Kenny would support the building of the pool in his home constituency. Cllr Lisa Chambers said she would only support the motion if the meeting could get a guarantee from government that they would receive ongoing funding to support the running costs. Director of Services for the Castlebar Municipal District Paddy Mahon called on the councillors not to reconsider the project as it could possibly put funding for the 25 metre pool in ‘jeopardy’. Mr Mahon told the meeting that council architects and staff had brought the project to a ‘very advanced stage’. With a tender for the project expected by the end of the year the project was at ‘subject to funding’ stage. Mr Mahon urged the councillors to stick with the current agreed project, however Cllr McDonnell called for a review of the 50 metre project and said a further meeting on the issue should take place in two weeks time where all councillors would be able to review the 50 metre pool project.