A south Dublin gym is set to close despite community opposition.
The Ballyogan community is "deeply disappointed" as Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has confirmed the close of the local gym in the Samuel Beckett Civic Centre. The gym will be shutting its doors on August 9 to facilitate the development of a new library on the site.
Dublin Rathdown Sinn Fein representative Shaun Tracey said: "[The closure] is despite concerns raised by gym users, many of whom will not be able to travel to the other DLR Leisure Gyms in Meadowbrook, Monkstown and Loughlinstown. Some gym users have told me that this facility is vital for them in managing their mental health, maintaining their physical health and just simply getting out of the house and meeting other people."
However, Mr Tracey has welcomed the news that the Part 8 application for the development of the swimming pool, the new gym and the sports hall will be brought in the second quarter of next year. He added: "But the current gym has been in operation since 2015 and I can see no reason why the development of the library could not have happened after the new gym has been developed.
“There is nobody opposed to the development of the library. In fact, it will be a very welcome addition to the community. But this has been badly managed by the Council, and the local community and local gym users, in particular, have been badly let down.”
Dublin Live has contacted Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for comment.
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