Demolition Takes Place to Make Way for Leisure Centre

10 Feb 2006

Demolition of Woodhead Community Education Centre started today (Thursday 9 February), as part of the preparation works for the construction of the new Kirkintilloch Leisure Centre. The news comes as Kirkintilloch’s Initiative has arranged for a webcam to be established overlooking the Leisure Centre site, allowing 24-hour access to images via East Dunbartonshire Council’s and KI’s websites.

Building work for the leisure centre officially got underway on 16th January 2006. Since then progress has been made preparing the site for construction. This includes securing and fencing off the site, erecting the site village, disconnecting public utility services and appointing key personnel to take work forward.

The construction process is expected to take around 15 months. An internal fit-out, staff recruitment and training programme will then be completed to allow the new centre to be fully functional in Autumn 2007

Duncan Hamilton, Project Director for Kirkintilloch’s Initiative said:

“Demolition of the Community Education Centre is a major step towards making the site for the Leisure Centre available for the construction works. Already we have seen a flurry of activity as the site has been prepared and secured.”

“For safety reasons it was necessary to close one of the footpaths across Woodhead Park that fell within the site boundaries. We considered providing a temporary path along the western edge of the site but this would have crossed onto an area that is used by the Soccer Sevens. KI would like to apologise to anyone who is temporarily inconvenienced by this arrangement”

“We are pleased that with the assistance of East Dunbartonshire Council we will be able to offer people the opportunity to view the progress of the leisure centre from the comfort of their own homes through the webcam.”

Kirkintilloch’s Initiative and Barr Limited, the company appointed with leading on the design and construction of the leisure centre, have been working closely together to liaise with the community and local residents.

A newsletter, the first of a regular series that will advise of when imminent works and crucial phases like steel erection and roofing will take place, has been sent to local residents. To help residents to communicate any questions and concerns they may have Mrs Annie Cunnigham has been elected to represent Parkview Residents and will co-ordinate enquiries.

Barr Limited and KI assure that every effort is being made to take forward the construction process with as little disruption as possible to the community.

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