Work starts on £4m sports hall for Paisley

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Construction work has begun on a £4m sports hall for Paisley. The new facility is in the form of an extension to the Lagoon Leisure Centre.

The £4million cost has been funded by Renfrewshire Council, Renfrewshire Leisure which manages pools and sports centres, including the Lagoon, and sportscotland.

Managers at the Lagoon have stressed that it’s 'business as usual' for customers while construction work continues on the new extension which is due to open in early 2008.

“The sports hall extension and expanded fitness facility will benefit not just the Lagoon Leisure Centre but also attract competitions, tournaments and events to be staged here,” said Councillor Tommy Williams, chair of Renfrewshire Leisure and depute leader of Renfrewshire Council.

“It will also allow people in Renfrewshire to participate in a wider variety of sports, clubs and community programmes. The benefits will go beyond sport and provide opportunities for the facility to play a major role in improving the health and activity of the wider population.”

Councillor Roy Glen, convener of the Council’s Lifelong Learning and Work Policy Board said: "Along with our partners in this venture, Renfrewshire Leisure and Sportscotland, we are making a strategic investment to build on the existing success of a popular facility. There’s a growing recognition of the social and health benefits of investment in sport and leisure. Renfrewshire Council is committed to increasing opportunity for all of our community to get involved in sport at the level that suits them, whether its a game with friends, a fitness programme or at competition standard".

Julia Bracewell OBE, Chair of sportscotland said: “sportscotland is delighted to support the development of a sports hall at the Lagoon Leisure Centre with a lottery award of £750,000.

“Sport has a key role to play in Scotland, improving the nation’s health, promoting social inclusion and introducing communities to the fun and enjoyment sport can provide. This project is yet another example of sportscotland’s commitment to providing quality, accessible facilities throughout Scotland.

John Mitchell, project manager with Scottish building firm Rok which is building the sports hall, said: “Rok has been involved in a number of projects that involve working in a ‘live’ environment.

We’ll keep disruption to the day-to-day running of the Lagoon Leisure Centre to the absolute minimum.”

Press release: Wednesday 20 December 2006