No Sunday opening for Stornoway sports centre 24/9/14
Early openings for Ionad Spors Leodhais took a step forward today – amid a call for Sunday opening of the Lewis Sports Centre in Stornoway.
A proposal of a year trial period opening the sports centre one hour earlier (7am) on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays was passed by the Comhairle’s Sustainable Development committee today.
If the proposal is passed by full council next week, the sports facility will open early to both members of voluntary club Swim Western Isles and the general public.
Comhairle members were keen to approve the proposal as many spoke of the island sporting talents successes such as Commonwealth Games competitor Kerry MacPhee and swim star Kara Hanlon.
Cllr Rae Mackenzie said: “I must congratulate people in all sports in the islands.
“A generation ago is was just football and a bit of rugby, but now we’ve got competitors in running, swimming and all different sports with success not just in the north of Scotland but all over.”
Cllr Gordon Murray congratulated sports centre manager Tony Wade and his team for all their hard work in the development of sport in the islands.
Comhairle Convener Norman A Macdonald added: “It is important that the young people who are very able and are working at a high level in their sport get support in what they do not just from their families and clubs but also from their council.”
A call from Cllr Donnie Steele for opening the Lewis Sports Centre on Sunday however was not taken up.
Cllr Steele said: “I’d like to see the opening the sports centre from 1pm to 6pm on Sundays.”
He later added: “It should be open on a Sunday, it’s the 21st century we’re in.
“We’re going on about the success of our athletes but they are missing a day training; and for families also, it’s a family day wasted.”