West Tyrone Sinn Fein Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Council chairman performs official opening of newly refurbished Hospital Road Community Centre.

Published: 27 August, 2010

On Friday afternoon, the Chairperson of Omagh District Council, Declan Mc Aleer performed the official re-opening of the newly refurbished Hospital Road Community Centre. The community centre is one of three council run facilities in the town and the £1 million refurbishment has provided multi purpose rooms and facilities which enable local groups to avail of a wide range of activities and services. Speaking at the launch, Cllr Mc Aleer said:
'Since Omagh District Council first opened this facility in 1978 at a cost of £55,000, the centre has continued to develop and evolve to meet the changing needs of the community here in the Hospital Road. The reopening of the Community Centre following what can only be described as a major modernisation project, is but another step in the evolution of the Centre as a focal point of the community. This project, completed at a cost of approximately £1million, represents not only a huge financial commitment by the Council, but also a significant investment in the future of the local community.

'I believe that it is further evidence of the level of confidence which the Council has in the ability of the Hospital Road Management Committee to utilise and maximise the potential of the Community Centre. I also wish to recognise the support and assistance of the Hospital Road Interagency Group in ensuring that the local community were fully appraised of the works and the ensuing disruption.

'Investment in the community is one of the key objectives of the Council's Corporate Plan and the work which has been carried out most recently here at the Hospital Road and previously in the redevelopment of Strathroy Community Centre three years ago, has reinforced the Council's commitment to ensuring that this objective is achieved. Indeed the improvements planned for the CKS Community Centre scheduled to commence later this year, will complete the modernisation programme of the three Council owned community centres and will when finished, represent an aggregate capital investment of well in excess of £2.5 million.

'The provision of this cutting edge building, which features new multi purpose rooms, will ensure additional space for the wide range of activities at the Centre. It provides facilities to cater for all ages from pre school to senior citizens, as well as a range of health and community initiatives.

'The people of Hospital Road and its hinterland have been provided with an outstanding facility and it would be remiss of me at this point not to pay tribute to the Council members and staff, whose commitment to improving community services has been borne out by the provision of this wonderful building. I would like to commend our Community Support team, and in particular the Centre's Community Development officer, Rena Weir and George Maguire, our caretaker - both of whom were always on call, for all eventualities.

'I would like to compliment the architects, W & M Given led by Mark Lennox and the main contractors, McCann Brothers, Seskinore for delivering such an aesthetically pleasing but functional building which is finished to such an exceptionally high standard. It is very satisfying that local contractors, like McCanns, are bidding and winning work in such a competitive environment. Thank you to Liam McCann and his team, Terry Devlin and Michael McCarney. I also wish to thank the Council's Clerk of Works, Sean Mullan for his work on this project and keeping everything coordinated so effectively on site.

'I am confident that the Hospital Road Community Centre will continue to meet the requirements of the people of this area and will prove to be a facility of which the community and the Council can be extremely proud.
Finally, I am honoured and delighted to declare the extension and refurbishment of Hospital Road Community Centre officially open'