FERMANAGH and Omagh District Council has voted in favour of the redevelopment of the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum, which is expected to cost in the region of £70 million, despite the revelation a legal challenge against the project is potentially imminent.
All eyes were on the special Council meeting tonight (Tuesday, April 15) to see whether the local councillors would give the green light to the proposed redevelopment of the Enniskillen leisure centre.
In a dramatic start to proceedings, Cllr Mark Ovens announced at the beginning of the meeting that the Council had this afternoon received a “pre-action letter” from “a well respected” Fermanagh legal firm on behalf of Forum users.
Cllr Ovens requested the decision be adjourned until the legal issue was considered, at which point chairman Cllr John McClaughry announced the Council would be going into committee, which is when the councillors and Council officials consider matters in private, out of the public eye.
Council chief executive Alison McCullagh explained to those in the packed public gallery this was due to the sensitive legal matters involved.
After a short time, the Council came back out of committee and Ms McCullagh announced the matter had been considered and the meeting – and the decision – would be continuing. Revealing the letter outlined plans to launch a judicial review if the project was given the green light, she said the Council was satisfied all matters regarding the project had been very carefully examined.
The meeting was then given a detailed briefing by Council officials on the background to the major redevelopment, such as the need for the new leisure centre, the benefits of the planned new Passivhaus facility and the services it will provide, and on the financial plan for the project – including confirmation of its revised budget of £70 million.
The officials recommended the councillors approve the plans for the Forum redevelopment. Approving these recommendations was proposed by Sinn Féin’s Cllr Tommy Maguire and seconded by the DUP’s David Mahon.
Cllr Robert Irvine from the UUP proposed an alternative motion, to “put a stay” on the decision of six months, to revisit the consultation stage, and to keep the Forum open in the meantime. This motion was seconded by his party colleague Cllr Victor Warrington.
After a lengthy, and at times passionate, cross-chamber debate between councillors, both motions were put to a vote. The first motion, in favour of the development, was passed with 32 votes for and six against it.
The Forum will now close on April 30, with construction of the new leisure centre starting next month.
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