A multi-million pound makeover of the Galleon Centre may get underway in April 2023.
Work on the Kilmarnock centre was delayed by the pandemic and leisure bosses say the undertaking was paused to see if the centre would stay 'viable' post-covid.
The centre's £13.859 million refurbishment was agreed by East Ayrshire Council's cupboard in 2019 with the proposal of making a brand new leisure facility rejected.
Now greater than three years on it is understood council officers are engaged on proposals to take to cupboard in December this 12 months.
The Galleon relied closely on hardship investments from the council through the world well being disaster with East Ayrshire offering a hardship grant of £150,000 and the centre was later handed an extra £80,000 to unravel cashflow points.
However a press release from Kilmarnock Leisure Belief says that regardless of the challenges the centre has proved its price and significance to the group.
The assertion reads: "The cupboard accepted a capital funding from East Ayrshire Council of £13.859m to facilitate the refurbishment of the Galleon Leisure Centre in 2019.
"Through the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 resulting in the whole closure of the centre, after working 5 months by itself reserves with no revenue or exterior funding the centre needed to request hardship assist from East Ayrshire Council to make sure operational sustainability.
"Within the interval as much as April 2021 following a collection of lockdowns, Covid-19 restrictions and diminished capability/footfall, the centre needed to proceed counting on council assist to stay operational. The assist was agreed; nevertheless, the choice was taken to pause the refurbishment undertaking for a interval of two years to evaluate if we had been viable to function.
"Regardless of the challenges we confronted together with ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, staffing points, elevated operational and utility prices and diminished footfall, the centre has marked a journey to restoration to show its viability, price and significance to the group.
"While we nonetheless have many extra hurdles to face, our hope is to restart the refurbishment undertaking in April 2023 and work in the direction of rejuvenating the a lot liked and nicely used facility, decreasing the operational value, and bringing in a breath of latest life. We hope that you'll give us your assist, endurance and understanding throughout this era. "
East Ayrshire Council mentioned pausing the refurbishment will enable the council to 'overview' native sporting and leisure wants.
A spokesperson for East Ayrshire Council mentioned: "East Ayrshire Council as a part of its hardship funding, agreed to pause the refurbishment programme in an effort to give the Galleon Centre house and time to get better from the pandemic.
"Pausing the refurbishment will even to permit the Council, working with the Galleon Centre, time to overview the native sporting and leisure wants submit pandemic and this work will likely be beginning quickly.
"The council recognises that our residents behaviours when it comes to sports activities, health and wellbeing have modified on account of the pandemic and needs to make sure that the capital funding into the Galleon Centre has the largest affect attainable.
"Officers working with the Galleon Centre intention to convey a report back to Council’s Cupboard by the top of December this 12 months, setting out suggestions for taking ahead the capital funding."
Do not miss the newest Ayrshire headlines –signal as much as our free every day e-newsletter right here