What lies ahead for Lisnagelvin Leisure Centre?

There have been calls for the former Lisnagelvin Leisure Centre to be put to use for the surrounding community after it emerged that council are now considering ‘options’ for the site.

The centre closed down in April after almost 35 years, following the opening of the new £12m Foyle Arena at St Columb’s Park.

The Derry News contacted Derry City and Strabane District Council to ask what plans, if any, there were for the future of the centre.

A spokesperson for the council replied that council will ‘shortly consider the capital programme for the entire district including addressing options in respect of the Lisnagelvin site’.

Commenting, the DUP MLA for Foyle Gary Middleton said that council’s must consult with the surrounding community before making any decision on the future of the site.

“What we want to see is the site put back into use in some sort of aspect, and what we don’t want to see is the place lying derelict,” he said.

“There had been some ideas put about as to what could now be done with the site, on whether there would be an interest from supermarkets, such as Tesco maybe expanding.

“Whatever council decided to do with the site, they must consult with the community, and make that the priority.”

For more on this story, see today's Derry News.