Planning approval has been granted today for a new state of the art public swimming pool in Buncrana.
Councillors of Donegal County Council today gave the go-ahead for the multi-million project, which will replace the vacant leisure centre at Aileach Road
The former Buncrana Leisure Centre has been closed since 2015.
The new building will contain a five-lane 25-metre-long swimming pool a learner pool, flume slide and spectator area. There will also be a first floor fitness suite and fitness studio. Site development works include soft and hard landscaping facing Aileach Road including a bus drop off area along Aileach Road with a path up to Scoil Mhuire.
Speaking in advance of the meeting, Cllr Jack Murray said the Buncrana community had a “painfully long saga” to get a top-class leisure centre.
“There have been many false dawns over the years but now that designs and plans are agreed, and planning is to be approved – which I expect it will – then we will have taken a massive step forward.”
Last year, Cllr Murray moved a motion which was unanimously backed by all councillors, asking the council to expand the Repowering Buncrana Project to include the leisure centre.
“This application is now expanded to seek over €20million – by far the largest amount of public investment in the history of the town,” he added.
