North Ayrshire councils proposed regeneration initiative which involves the Magnum 2 development in the town center appears to me to be a waste of 60million pound of tax payers money on an ill planned regeneration programme that would better benefit the community by using the money for a refurbishment of the original Magnum complex and development of the immediate outside surrounding area and the larger beach park and harbor side location .
I am under no illusion that the Irvine would vastly benefit form investment through regeneration , however the planed closer and relocation to a new build with a 40% decreased capacity of the Magnum sports & recreation leisure center located at the back of the harbor side seems to me to be a grossly un-thought through infinitive from a ecconomic, comercial and health & social development prospective.
Furthermore, the proposed site of the new leisure center does not offers the sports & leisure development & investment properties that the Magnum location does from a commercial sports & recreational aspect or with the benefits provided from a health & safety prospective or indeed as an investment & ecconomic commercial and recreational site, that the Magnum & beach part offers.
Details of the proposals by the developer are available form http://www.irvinebay.co.uk/publications
The Magnum has, over the years gone though some major changes to the original build.
When the original Magnum opened the venue hosted a wealth of leisure & recreational facilities including large swimming pool, ice rink, theater , cinema, gymnasium, squash courts, bowling allay, archery & table tennis and facilitated many types of sporting and leisure activities in it halls.
In recent years these facilities and events have dwindled, and there have been many reasons given for this, not least, lack of interest or inappropriate location. Frankly, and not to put too fine a point on it, these excuses are bollocks.
Undeniable, financial slumps and ecconomic crisis has had its impact as it has in Irvine in general. Unemployment, resulting from the closure of many of North Ayrshire's main employment resources has seen many North Ayrshire residents loose their jobs resulting from closures and redundancies, voluntary or otherwise.
These issues impact on lifestyle, financially and socially.
Cuts to public services also impact.
One of the most frequent reasons I have heard from locals & council officials in regard of the inappropriateness of keeping the Magnum open, is that of transport availability to the Magnum.
There is only an hourly bus service and parking facilities are given as being an issue.
This is easily rectified. There is opportunity within the location of the Magnum to improve & expand on the existing parking area and the bus service could also be improved.
Indeed, I believe there are a number of options to improve the transport issues for reaching the venue location, and these would also involve creating full, part time & seasonal job opportunities.
These are examples;
1. A 30minute service shuttle mini bus service from the town centers main bus route on the high street could be created which could be funded by a non profit scheme by the council available to Magnum membership holders,
or a scheme could be introduced where mega rider holders for any route could travel on it, with their existing bus card,
also, a reduced priced fair for shuttle bus could be introduced costing a low fair.
2. Seasonal opportunities could offer a horse and cart service for the waterfront Harbor side & beach park area that could also accommodate the Magnum, this would serve as tourist opportunity, as well as, a part time seasonal employment, ( possible negotiated with some of the local farmers who have horses) & could have additional options for expansion on route from a a tourist perspective to take in other venues with in the geographical area of the coast from Ardrosan to Troon.
3.A rick shaw or motor cycle taxi service could be introduced from the railway station to the Magnum, again creating job opportunities.
4. A bike hire, park and go, service similar to those in holland and London could be initiated.
If the council was to opt for a refurbishment of the original Magnum, I suggest that the Magnum be restored to its former glory bringing back the original facilities the original venue offered , ice rink, cinema etc.
This could also accommodate comercial retail opportunities such as hairdressing and beauty salon, therapeutic massage & holistic therapy opportunities, for both hands on therapeutic resources and comercial retail outlets, including sports wear & sport equipment shop as well as health food outlet & eatery on the premises, that would not deflect from the many pubs, hotels & restaurants and bar on the harbor side, indeed, it could work in conjunction with these hospitality & eating outlets as a point of referral and recommendation, for corporate hospitality & exhibition purposes that they offer which would enhance local trade on the harbor-side without taking away from existing businesses in the hospitality or exhibition and corporate domain that offer conferencing opportunities within the Irvine and North Ayrshire local.
There are many existing venues that accommodate these buisness ,conferencing & hospitality opportunities accommodating everything from lectures and wedding fayres to wedding receptions and corporate events, that are presently not reaching full capacity.
Those promoting the Magnum 2 proposals emphasis the corporate facilities & meeting hub in the new proposed venue, fail to recognise that with at a 40% reduced capacity they will not be able to generate the same projected revenue the existing Magnum, does from both sporting & leisure activities, as well as cultural , therapeutic retail and opportunities & options.
Indeed, the Magnum is perfectly located for working in conjunction with the Harbor Arts Center, an already well established arts & exhibition venue that belongs to the council, and has an excelant restaurant franchise within its premises, only a short walk across the Magnum bridge, which leads to both the beach park and harbor side, where there is already a number of existing business's and the court yard galleries, in addition to the maritime museum .
It is without a doubt that these existing local businesses would benefit greatly from an improved transport link from both the town center and railway station, as well as benefit from any increase to foot-flow that the refurbishment of the Magnum would bring.
The restoration & refurbishment of the existing Magnum would also offer a fantastic opportunity to create job opportunities and youth training programmes that are badly needed within the area, covering not only sports , leisure and retail training and job opportunities but also allow opportunists to develop health , care and risk assessment training opportunities that would work in conjunction with the marketing and promotional plan I have suggestions for which I shall post at a later date later.
These training & marketing suggestions also allow for the facility to work in conjunction with local schools and training collages and could offer work experiences opportunities for students covering in a wide range of subject with in the health & welfare agenda.
Outwith the Magnum facility itself as a refurbishment project , the intimidate grounds and area that leads to the beach park also offers a multitude of development opportunities for sporting, leisure and environmental interest pursuits , with both the marina and beach area all within its boundaries.
I also suggest, that at minimum cost the expansion of the existing skate park, and the development of a cycling proficiency site, in the form of a mini Irvine town center theme, with rd tracks and round abouts and traffic lights would be a fun way of developing road safety skills for young people and again offer youth training and employment opportunities.
In addition I believe, the location offers excelant development opportunistic that could house a Equestrian center for able bodied and disabled people, as well as a base for wildlife and ecco friendly walks and trails with enhanced environmental & wildlife learning opportunities .
I suggest all these suggestions would far better benefit the Irvine and North Ayrshire community in way of eduction, training & employment opportunities, sports cultural and leisure facilities in a safe location, with the added benefits of minimal risk from traffic congestion and the other road safety issues the Magnum 2 project reflects, as well being as a perfect location and opportunity to develop revenue from not just the local community but visitor and tourist markets.
Lets not forget, there is further development opportunists with in the Irvine bay and former science island areas, but that is subject of another project.
Obviously it is prevalent to point out I am neither architect or town planner, but I put these suggestions forward in good will, to reflect for the people of Irvine what the original Magnum refurbishment and development of the beach park area could do to enhance opportunities within the area & community in way of facilities , job and training opportunities as well as offering sports cultural and leisure options that would benefit the community .
I leave it to the good people of Irvine to conclude from this , what they think is the best option.
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