It's a new year and a new dawn for the Allander Leisure Centre.
The current Bearsden facility will bid farewell to its final patrons on Sunday 15 January. It is anticipated that the first customers will be welcomed to the new, state-of-the-art sports and leisure complex on 6 March 2023.
The site is being redeveloped as part of a £42.5 million investment by East Dunbartonshire Council - which also includes a support centre for adults with learning disabilities.
The existing Allander is closing to allow essential utility disconnection and connection works - and the transfer to the new building nearby - to take place safely and efficiently.
The unavoidable closure will mean that patrons will be unable to access sports and leisure facilities until the new centre opens.
Direct Debit membership payments will not be collected from people whose 'home' site is the Allander during the closure. Alternative arrangements can be made. For full details, visit Allander FAQ's webpage
The new Allander will offer:
- An eight-lane swimming pool and 20m training pool with movable floor
- Sauna and steam vitality room
- Hydrotherapy pool
- Gym and high & low intensity studios
- State-of-the-art spin room
- Eight-court games hall
- Two squash courts
- Wet and dry changing facilities
- Café
There will also be a new support facility created for adults with learning disabilities - replacing Kelvinbank Resource Centre in Kirkintilloch. It is envisaged that will open in March, with service users to be informed of arrangements as soon as possible.
The facility will include:
- Flexible meeting rooms, quiet spaces and office
- Dementia, rebound, sensory and physiotherapy treatment rooms
- Arts & crafts, dance and music rooms
- Changing rooms
- Kitchen facilities.
Demolition of the current Allander building is due to commence at the end of this month. The overall project - which includes the construction of a new 'Sports Dome', offering two football pitches and a tennis court - is expected to be completed by autumn 2023.
The Council is working closely with partners including East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust (EDLCT) and East Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership.
Princess Anne at the official opening of the former Allander in 1978 (photo courtesy of EDLC Archives & Local Studies).
Jim Neill, Chair of EDLCT, said,
It will be bittersweet as we bid farewell to the current Allander, but we're all looking forward to welcoming our first customers to the new centre on Monday 6 March 2023. Unfortunately it was not possible to simply close one facility and open the other due to essential utility works, the transfer of equipment and logistical preparations. We apologise for any inconvenience, but hope everyone can bear with us as we ready the new, state-of-the-art premises for its first patrons
Councillor Gordan Low, Leader of the Council, added, "I look forward to the opening of the new Allander Leisure Centre. It has been a challenging project to deliver and I would like to pay tribute to everyone involved - from the members of the community who helped to shape the plans to all the partners involved in its planning and construction. Exciting times are ahead for Bearsden and East Dunbartonshire."
McLaughlin & Harvey is the main contractor and architectural design is by Holmes Miller, with support from Doig+Smith, Brown + Wallace and planning consultancy Barton Willmore.
- The project is being delivered as part of the Scape - Major Works - UK Framework.
- The planning process included public exhibitions and online resources, as well as engagement with the Allander Champions Group, local residents, community councils, Allander users, residents' associations and local schools.
- The HSCP's approved East Dunbartonshire Adult Learning Disability Strategy 2018-23 committed to developing redesigned day services for people with learning disabilities in East Dunbartonshire - reprovisioning the current service delivered at Kelvinbank Resource Centre, Kirkintilloch.
