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.north-ayrshire.gov.uk/council/community-planning-partnership/regenerating-north-ayrshire.aspx
http://www.irvinebay.co.uk/
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 moter 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 developed 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 opportunistic 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.
TODAY; 19th May 2013 Updating this post with some photos that show the locations for the proposed Magnum 2, with North Ayrshire council & Irvine Bay regeneration project. With relent negative risk assessment issues to road & pedestrain uses in community.
Also some geographical & locational shots of surrounding beach park and harbor side vicinity with references to my proposal notes & reflecting positive risk assessment points
Main thouroughfare thru Irvine town centre.
PIC.1 TH court house looking along to Irvine cross. The main bus route serving most bus route though the town.
pic 2. Car part next to court. Old town house & police station site.
This lies on the busy corner at the "Burn's" roundabout, The car & bus routes is the main route around the back of the town centre and has heavy traffic flow day and night. The rd , is fairly narrow , and busy with shoppers and commutation traffic..
23/05/2013
I have today come into possession of a copy of an internal letter by North Ayrshire council regarding the Mangum leisure center and the proposed Magnum 2 ( its replacement)
I feel it is in the interest of Irvine and North Ayrshire residents to know the content of this email as the regeneration of Irvine and any investment of public funds in it, is very much the in the interest of the people of North Ayrshire, and the interest of future generations of North Ayrshire people.
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Audrey Sutton
To:
Cc: Liz McKinlay
Sent: Thursday, 23 May 2013, 12:10
Subject: Letter of objection [INTERNAL]
Dear ,
Thank you for your correspondence on behalf of a number of objectors to the
new leisure centre in Irvine.
I apologise for the delay in responding. I now have the letters, and the
replies will go out to those people for whom we have identifiable names and
addresses today.
I append below the information contained in the response to the objectors,
for your information.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of further assistance.
Yours sincerely,
Audrey Sutton
Dr Audrey Sutton
Head of Service
Education and Skills,
North Ayrshire Council,
Cunninghame House,
Irvine KA12 8EE
Tel: 01294 324414
Thank you for your correspondence in relation to the new Irvine Leisure
Centre.
When it first opened in 1975, the Magnum Leisure Centre was the first of
its kind in Scotland and one of the largest destination leisure facilities
in the UK. Extremely popular, its visitor numbers were reportedly over a
million a year when it opened but have declined significantly since then to
just over 500,000 a year today.
During its lifetime, the nature of leisure centre provision has changed
from that of large, destination attractions at a small number of locations
to more numerous facilities at local level. This has meant that
individuals are able to travel shorter distances to more modern facilities.
As a consequence, the catchment area for the Magnum has fundamentally
changed from that of a national to a local facility. A recent survey
confirms that 78% of the present users of the facility come from the local
area. Overall usage of the centre has steadily declined in recent years
with a fall of 18% between 2004 and 2007, with swimming and fitness
attendances falling by 25% and 30% respectively over the period.
The building has a number of issues relating to the age and condition of
the facilities as well as scale of provision. Significant investment would
be required to address all the issues with the structure and fabric of the
building and the services. Even if the building was fully restored, the
facility is of a size that is unsustainable. Staff and energy costs are
high compared to more modern and efficient facilities. The complexity of
the design and operation of the Magnum make it much more expensive to
operate than more modern leisure facilities and resources which could be
used for sports development and to promote participation instead have to be
directed towards keeping the existing facilities operational. It is
projected that the replacement of the existing facility with a smaller,
modern, energy efficient building would see a significant reduction in
operating costs. In the current economic environment, with the Council
having to make significant efficiency savings, the current provision at the
Magnum is unsustainable.
Councils are being encouraged to be more imaginative in the refurbishment,
design and location of new buildings so they meet the needs of a wide range
of sports and are flexible to meet changing trends. Facilities should also
be sustainable in financial and environmental terms.
In February 2007, Genesis Strategic Management Consultants were
commissioned by North Ayrshire Leisure Ltd to carry out a review of the
Magnum Leisure Centre. The specific objectives were to provide a robust
assessment of the present and likely future performance of the Magnum,
identify the key capital investment issues and the likely lifespan of any
investment made and develop a series of options for the future of the
building.
In July 2007, Genesis published a report on the review process with
recommendations that best value for the longer term needs of the area would
be achieved by building a new leisure centre in Irvine that allows the
rationalisation of facilities to meet the expectations of the modern
leisure market, local demands of the Irvine area and identified regional
functions for North Ayrshire.
If approved, the new Leisure Centre will be sited in the heart of Irvine
and will provide an iconic modern facility for both local people and
visitors and forming a key part of the development of the town centre.
The current planning application outlines the proposals in detail –
including innovative plans to integrate the historic Towns House to create
a venue which will cater for local and family history, art exhibits,
community and cultural events as well as sports and leisure.
The Council has worked with its partners at Irvine Bay Regeneration
Company, sportscotland and Historic Scotland to develop an exciting modern
facility which also incorporates Irvine's historic past.
This redevelopment will play a major part in the regeneration of Irvine –
helping the town to develop a strong identity, attract more visitors and
tourists and ensure the iconic Towns House building has a sustainable
future.
I hope this information is helpful and provides you with a rationale behind
the decision to build the new leisure centre in the heart of the town.
Dr Audrey Sutton
Head of Service
Education and Skills,
North Ayrshire Council,
Cunninghame House,
Irvine KA12 8EE
Tel: 01294 324414
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