THE public will have a say on options for a new state-of-the-art leisure centre in Eastwood.

Plans for a public consultation were announced this week, with residents to be given the chance to air their views on a number of potential options for future leisure and recreational facilities in the area, potentially funded as part of the £44m City Deal project.

The move comes after significant maintenance issues were identified at the current Eastwood Park Leisure facility, with Carmichael Hall and Eastwood Theatre also requiring major renovation and refurbishment if they are to remain fit for purpose.

Work to identify the various options available to East Renfrewshire Council as it aims to improve the facilities currently on offer within the Eastwood area has already been carried out.

The options to go before the public in the New Year include continuing to run the centre on a maintenance basis only; addressing the current maintenance backlog issues; redeveloping the existing site or scoping out the potential for creating a new state-of-the-art leisure and recreational facility on a different site within Eastwood.

Council Leader Tony Buchanan told the Barrhead News: “The council has always been ambitious and aspirational with regard to its education provision and investment in new and refurbished schools, while our commitment to delivering regeneration projects totalling £44m through the City Deal also show our vision for the area.

“The current facility at Eastwood Park Leisure presents the council with an opportunity to consider, develop and set out clearly its ambitions and aspirations with regard to future leisure provision within the Eastwood area.

“It’s clear from the work already carried out that we need to look at all options before considering the best way forward.

“So we want to hear the public’s views to allow us to consider the best way forward.

“We are absolutely committed to providing the best possible facilities for our residents so I would urge everyone to get involved in this consultation to help shape our plans.”

If the option of a major refurbishment of the current centre was undertaken it would provide better facilities, says the council, with the potential to include a new competition swimming pool, redesigning the gym space, a sports hall along with a new changing village, pool side sauna and steam room, and soft play area.

This option would require the centre to be fully closed for potentially up to 12 months.

If a new facility was to be developed it has the potential to be three times the size of the current leisure centre and could include a six-lane competition pool, teaching pool, sports hall, dance and fitness studios, an interactive play area, community library space, fully equipped gym, health suite, café area and four outdoor five-a-side 3G football pitches with floodlights.

A theatre with studio facility, dressing rooms, green rooms, toilets and a cafe/bar could also be incorporated into any new facility.

A challenge posed by this option is the identification of a suitable new site.

Some sites which could be considered appropriate for a completely new development, although detailed feasibility work would still be required, are Woodfarm Pavilion and playing fields, Eastwood Park, Broomburn Park, Overlee Pavilion and playing fields, Braidbar, Rouken Glen, and Shawood Park, in Newton Mearns.

Councillors at an East Renfrewshire Council Cabinet meeting earlier this month agreed to commission a master plan outlining potential future options for the Eastwood Park campus.

This will be carried out alongside a comprehensive feasibility study into the potential for the possibility of building a new facility within the Eastwood area.

Details of the consultation process will be confirmed.