Have your say on regional sports centre, urges Pool Action Group

It's important that as many people and groups have their say on the new regional sports complex in Mullingar.

That's the message from the Mullingar Pool Action Group (MPAG), whose members have played a central role in getting the project to the design and planning phase.

As part of the preliminary phase of the multi-million euro project, Westmeath County Council is hosting a public consultation in the atrium of the council offices next Tuesday and Wednesday (February 20 and 21) from 3 to 8pm. Members of the public have also been invited to complete an online sports needs assessment that will close on February 27.

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, the chair of MPAG, Lisa Corcoran, urged individuals and groups, including local schools, to complete the online survey as it will give the design team a better understanding of Mullingar's future sporting needs.

“We want to get the message out that this is people's one and only chance to have their say, everything will be considered, every suggestion.

“It's also important to note that the swimming pool will be just one part of the sports complex. All sporting organisations, mainstream and minority, and every community group with an interest in using the sports complex should complete the survey.

“As a group we are very conscious of the fact that a lot of families are leaving the town and county to access swimming facilities elsewhere. We are trying to convey to the planners that the pool needs to be a certain capacity (MPAG would like to see a ten-lane pool built) that can meet the needs of the community.

“This facility is going to be here for the foreseeable future and it is important that it meets the needs of everyone. We want it to be a pool and sports complex that everyone in our community can access.

“This is the one chance we will have in our lifetimes to have a say on how the swimming pool and sports complex should serve Mullingar.”