Tonight’s decision by Castlereagh Council to close the Robinson Centre will result in job losses and leave the Borough without any proper swimming facilities for up to three years, Alliance has claimed.
Alliance Party councillor Geraldine Rice said: “The hopes of hundreds have been sunk with the announcement of the decision to close the Robinson Centre. Unionists on Castlereagh Council have conspired for years to set artifically-low political rates, and tonight the public can see the result of this gross mismanagement.
“Alliance had hoped that the unionists would have listened to the views expressed by hundreds of ratepayers in the Borough at recent protests. They are fed up with the poor standard of services that they receive.
“A consistent rates strategy would have avoided boom and bust scenarios like this developing. Alliance has always argued that a long-term strategy would serve ratepayers better, and allowed a replacement leisure centre to be built before the Robinson Centre was threatened with closure.”
Cllr. Michael Long added: “In addition to our concerns about the reduced services for ratepayers, Alliance deeply regrets the fact that this decision will see many Council employees losing their jobs. We will do all that we can to minimise the impact on staff members in the coming weeks.”