THE long awaited public swimming pool for the Finn Valley area looks set to become a reality almost forty years after it was first mooted.
Donegal County Council has applied for planning permission for a eight million euro extension to the Finn Valley Athletic Centre in Stranorlar. The extension will incorporate a 25 metre five lane swimming pool, childrens learner pool, sauna, steam room and changing areas. A council motion was passed in 1971 to raise finance for a swimming pool for the area at an estimated cost of around £200,000 (254,000 euro).
'OVER THE MOON'
Fianna Fail councillor, Patrick McGowan, said that he was "over the moon" that the project was finally going ahead.
"Almost every stage of funding has been approved and hopefully there will be a quick turnaround and we can go to tender before the end of the year," Cllr McGowan said.
He added that the Department of Sport was anxious to move ahead with the new pool as soon as it was possible. However, he admitted that there would be a certain amount of scepticism among local people after such a long wait.
"Hopefully this news will take away any scepticism that is out there and the people are right to be sceptic," Cllr McGowan said.
"There is only so much the local councillors and the Government can do. The money has been identified and approved and in no way did the politicians delay this, it was more down to delays in the system. There has been an unacceptable delay and no one can dispute that".
CURRENT PROPOSALS
He added that the current proposals came into being around seven years ago and has been led by local councillors in the Stranorlar Electoral Area (SEA) ever since. Cllr McGowan said that around £50,000 was raised in the local community down through the years for the pool and he is confident that money will go towards the new development.
"This new pool has been driven by the Stranorlar Electoral Area councillors with the full co-operation of Ministers Mary Coughlan and Pat the Cope Gallagher and the former Minister for Sport Dr Jimmy McDaid. Dr McDaid will be the name mentioned when this new pool is up and running," Concluded Cllr McGowan.
The proposed plans will be available for inspection from tomorrow Tuesday March 13 to Monday April 16 at the council Roads Office in Ballybofey and at the Council House in Lifford.
