The development of a multi-million pound sports facility in Co Tyrone has been thrown into doubt as the Department for Communities says it has 'never agreed' to fund the project.
Plans had been approved earlier this year from Mid Ulster District Council to build a Health and Wellbeing Hub on the site of the Gortgonis playing fields in Coalisland.
They included a new leisure centre incorporating a gym, community hall, changing rooms and meeting rooms, with planned outdoor facilities to include a 6-lane running track, 3G pitch, woodland walkways and two connected play areas. A new Irish medium school has also been proposed for the area.
However, the project’s future is now in serious doubt after local councillors were told the Department for Communities would not be providing the £949,000 that had been earmarked through the Neighbourhood Renewal scheme.
The Department for Communities say it has not been provided with a final business case for the development and funding has never been agreed between it and the council. It said that the funding application was only submitted by the local authority on 1 September 2022.
A spokesperson for the Department for Communities said : “The Gortgonis project has been subject to ongoing discussions between Departmental and Council officials from 2018 however to date the Council have not provided the Department for Communities with a final business case.
“Funding for the project has never been agreed by the Department, however an application for Neighbourhood Renewal Funding was received by DfC on 1 September 2022 for £949k as a contribution towards the Gortgonis project.
“DfC advised the council that, given the timing of the request, the Neighbourhood Renewal budget for 2022/23 was fully committed but if funding becomes available due to other projects not going ahead the situation would be reviewed.
“The potential to secure funding is being urgently explored and work will continue with the council to progress this much needed project for the area.”
Total costs for the development of the facility are understood to have risen to more than £7m, having been estimated at £5m just over a year ago.
A spokesperson for Mid Ulster District Council confirmed that no 'formal commitment' had been made by the Department to fund the project.
"The Council is in discussions with DFC regarding a funding contribution towards the Gortgonis project to allow the full cost package to be secured," the council spokesperson said.
"These discussions remain ongoing and DFC has confirmed the project is a priority for them. However, at the moment they cannot provide any formal commitment as their final budget for next year has not been confirmed.
"The project remains a priority for the Council and is ready to proceed, with all the relevant statutory permissions and designs in place, once the funding discussions have all been finalised."
However, local representatives have expressed their dismay at the confusion regarding the project and say they were assured by officials that the required funding was in place..
SDLP councillor Malachy Quinn says the project is now in danger of being scrapped.
"After finally getting everything ready to go, the Department of Communities has said they can't deliver £1million that had previously been earmarked for the project citing 'current pressures', leaving the entire project in danger of being scrapped," Cllr Quinn said.
"This may also have knock-on effects for the new Irish Medium school planned for the same site.
"This would be a major blow to the local community and I am demanding that Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey secure this funding immediately.
"This was to be a major investment in Coalisland and a key strategic aim for the council and it's a disgrace that after all the work we have put in that DfC are now not going to give us the funding they have promised.”
Independent councillor Dan Kerr said the decision was a ‘slap in the face’ of the local community.
“This is a huge slap in the face for the Coalisland community,” Cllr Kerr said.
“While the project itself was to enhance the area we can not also forget that this will also be a big blow to the Irish-speaking community as a brand new Irish school was also to be located here with many enthusiastic staff, students and families of students looking forward to the project.
“This is also unacceptable for the local soccer teams as the new facilities would have greatly enhanced training and match day experiences for fans, players and nearby supporters.
“Once again the failure of Stormont has resulted in Coalisland being left behind, while local MLAs receive full pay and millions in expenses the Gortgonis Leisure Centre facility project is facing major trouble.”
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