Fears for future of Fife leisure centre after re-opening delayed

Local councillors have expressed frustration and disappointment at the delay in re-opening the Beacon Leisure Centre, Burntisland. Pic: Fife Photo Agency.

It had been scheduled to open on Monday, October 26 as part of Fife Sports and Leisure Trust’s phased re-opening programme.

But, this has now been put on hold as the trust tackles ‘significant challenges’ regarding the centre’s layout.

The delay will not affect the facility’s synthetic turf pitches.

Cllr Neil Crooks, convener of Kirkcaldy Area Committee, said local councillors were given a tour of the Beacon a couple of months ago where the difficulties meeting Scottish Government safety measures were explained. He said unless there is a change to those safety measures he can’t see when the Beacon will re open. Pic: Fife Photo Agency.

Councillor Kathleen Leslie, who represents Burntisland, Kinghorn and Western Kirkcaldy, called on the trust to be up front with locals.

The Conservative member said: "First, we had rumours circulating last year that the Beacon was to close, then we found that it was at the back of the queue to be re-opened.

“Now, the excuse is the layout of the centre did not make it conducive to physical distancing. Unless they had planned to rebuild the centre that was not going to change, was it?”

She added: “The trust and Fife Council need to get their act together and either develop a plan to limit the number of people in the centre, and staff it sufficiently to manage the situation – or they need to be upfront and tell us what exactly the long-term reality is for the Beacon.”

Councillor Neil Crooks, convener of Kirkcaldy Area Committee, toured the facility recently to see the problems.

He continued: “As well as the 2m distance issue, there is a requirement for the water PH level to be seven and that can’t be achieved at the Beacon. It’s a technical issue – the new restriction needs to be lifted.

"However the narrow corridors and ventilation system issues can’t be overcome which suggests a lengthy delay.”

Emma Walker, chief executive of Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, said: “We have risk assessed each facility on its own merits against current Scottish Government operational criteria.

"The structural layout of the Beacon Leisure Centre does not readily lend itself to achieving these controls.

“The design is such that physical distancing, without additional modifications, cannot be achieved at a sufficient level throughout the facility.

"We have also identified a number of challenges regarding the air ventilation system and pool water levels. We are working hard to resolve these issues.”

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