Urgent clarity sought over ongoing closure of Garvagh sports hall

Aontú Deputy Leader and representative for East Derry, Gemma Brolly has called for urgent clarity on the ongoing closure of Jim Watt Leisure Centre in Garvagh.

Last night, Ms Brolly expressed deep frustration at the continued lack of transparency surrounding the closure of the sports hall.

The facility, which has been shut since 2024 due to health and safety concerns, remains unavailable to the public, leaving the local community without access to an important recreational and sporting resource.

Structural concerns were first formally recorded by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council in October 2023, when cracks were identified along blockwork joints where the sports hall wall meets the roof structure, as well as cracks on the sports hall floor. These issues prompted a report proposing structural investigation work, noted in the minutes of the Council’s Leisure and Development Committee.

Despite this, crucial details relating to assessments, legal advice, and potential timelines for repair and reopening have either been withheld under Section 42(1) of the Freedom of Information Act—which allows Councils to withhold legally privileged information—or remain buried in Council committee minutes.

The Council has confirmed that some of the delay relates to ongoing legal proceedings. Minutes of the Leisure and Development Committee from June 17 2025 make reference to this and suggest the possibility of reopening sometime in 2026. These minutes are available publicly on the Council’s website.

Speaking on the issue, Ms. Brolly stated: “The people of Garvagh and the wider community have been left completely in the dark about what is happening with the Jim Watt Leisure Centre. This facility is vital for everyone - young and old, local sports clubs, community groups, schools, and families—and yet it has been closed since 2024 with little to no meaningful communication from the Council.

“While I acknowledge the seriousness of the health and safety concerns raised, there is no excuse for the lack of communication. Too often, the public only learns of updates through trawling through Council minutes or, as in this case, through Freedom of Information requests. That is not accountability, and it is not transparency.”

The FOI response confirmed that while updates were provided to the Leisure and Development Committee on 17 June 2025, the Council has refused to release details of legal or contractual matters relating to the closure, citing legal professional privilege.

“The Council’s decision to continue withholding information may be legally permitted, but it only adds to public frustration,” the Aontú Deputy Leader continued. “People deserve clarity on what work is being undertaken, when the sports hall will reopen, and how long they are expected to wait. Communities should not be forced to fight for basic information about facilities they pay for through their rates,” Ms Brolly continued.

“In the meantime, Council must also make alternative arrangements for service users. Schools, clubs, and community groups who rely on this facility cannot be left without provision for another year or more. It is the Council’s responsibility to ensure that the needs of residents are met while this dispute drags on.”

Aontú is calling on Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council to provide clear and accessible updates to the public on the status of the sports hall and publish a realistic timeline for repair and reopening.

The party is also seeking that council put in place interim arrangements for service users to ensure clubs, schools, and the community are not left without adequate facilities.

They would also like to ensure that local community groups, sports clubs, and residents are properly consulted and informed going forward.

The Aontú Deputy Leader concluded: "This community deserves better. This is a community that values its leisure facilities, yet they have been left sidelined. It is time for the Council to step up, put transparency first, and provide answers.”

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council responded by stating that 'the legal process has been protracted and Council have been providing communications to the public when updates were available'.

The council spokesperson added: “Once a resolution has been agreed as part of the legal process, Council will publish the anticipated timeframes for repair and reopening.

“Whilst the sports hall is not operational, other rooms within the centre remain open. In the interim, local users are being accommodated elsewhere, where possible.

“Council will continue to provide updates as the legal case progresses.”