Falkirk Council: 'No alternative' to closure of Bo'ness rec says council boss

Malcolm Bennie, director of Place Services, says a condition report revealed a string of problems, any one of which could cause a sudden ‘catastrophic failure’.

Corroded wiring, ancient boilers, a roof in desperate need of repair and cracks to the swimming pool wall are among the defects found.

The actual repairs would cost around £2 million but the presence of asbestos will effectively double that cost to at least £4 million, and Mr Bennie says spending that kind of cash does not make sense.

Campaigners say the condition report comes as no surprise – they know there has been a chronic lack of spending in the centre over years. Many believe it has been badly neglected when compared to Camelon’s Mariner Centre, with its new soft play, and Grangemouth, which now has a high-tech spin studio.

But Mr Bennie says it is a council-wide situation, with a lack of investment in properties across the district over many years.

The leader of Falkirk Council, Councillor Cecil Meiklejohn, says the Bo’ness centre’s fate is a result of choices made decades ago.

She said: “Over a significant period of time – not just the last ten years, probably not even the last 20 years – there were choices made about priorities.

“Falkirk Council has a low council tax – and low fees and charges – so therefore we didn’t have the money to invest.”

The public in Bo’ness have been vocal about their opposition to the centre’s closure, with demonstrations, petitions and a packed public meeting in the town hall.

Just last month, councillors were swayed by their appeal to keep the centre open for longer to find ways to make it more viable.

But the new report is adamant that it’s time to look at replacing the facilities – and that could mean an extension for Bo’ness Academy.

The suggestion is that £3 million of funding should be invested in community access to sport and leisure facilities at secondary schools, including Bo’ness.

Many in the community are sceptical that facilities in the academy will meet the needs of the community and Mr Bennie accepts that more information is needed quickly.

But he says his team are keen to find ways to make it work.

He said: “If the Strategic Property Review (SPR) is approved, it will generate £6 million of capital to invest in our assets and we are suggesting that £3 million is allocated to sport and leisure within schools.

“But if people start to extract from that you reduce the savings the SPR can make.

“The sad fact is that the condition survey report for the Bo’ness Rec is saying that it’s category D and if you don’t do the work in 18 months there is a risk of injury.

“The longer term vision for all our secondary schools is to make them more accessible.

“There are definitely things that can be done and there are examples of this right across Scotland now for more community access.”

Falkirk Council meets on Wednesday, January 31 at 10 am in Grangemouth Community Education Centre, Abbot’s Road. The meeting will also be livestreamed.