Members of the public cannot enter the leisure centre which closed during the pandemic
Kids have been “forced to use bushes for toilets” due to a lack of facilities at a Belfast leisure centre, it has been claimed.
Loughside Recreation Centre on the Shore Road has been closed since the pandemic, and has attracted controversy over its lack of use by politicians, community group members, and even the father of the former boxer Carl Frampton.
The council has been accused of failing to invest in the site for decades, in order to make it “unviable” and shut it down permanently. Currently, local football club Loughside FC use two grass pitches at the site, as well as changing and toilet facilities at the rear of the building.
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Crusaders FC have installed their own 3G pitch, and both clubs use the car park at the leisure centre. Despite this, however, the centre is not open to the public, despite being staffed.
Speaking to Belfast Live, former worker at the centre, Craig Frampton, said: “I worked at Loughside Recreation Centre for 38 years until 2021. The site has been deliberately run down, there’s been no investment in the centre.
“Before we closed, there were no classes of any description, there was no summer scheme for kids, no aerobics or fitness training. It’s probably the only centre in Belfast like that – I used to say it’s a bit like a pub with no beer, you wouldn’t go to it.
“We had 30 years of neglect under Belfast City Council and when GLL [Greenwich Leisure Limited] came in in 2015, they did absolutely nothing. They’re still getting paid to run this centre, there are members of staff in it but the public aren’t allowed into most of the building.”
Mr Frampton claims the council plan to knock the current building down and replace it with football changing rooms and a small committee room.
He said, due to issues with leaks at the nearby Grove Leisure Centre, this leaves the people of lower North Belfast with fewer leisure facilities.
Speaking about access at Loughside, Craig said: “Part of the building is open to a football team, and they can access it, so I don’t see why the rest of the community can’t. When you consider the main hall at the Grove [leisure centre] has been partially closed for about ten years due to leaks, it’s another reason to open the centre.
“The centre is old, it does need money spent on it. I believe they have already made the decision as to what they’re going to do, I believe they’re going to flatten the centre and replace it with changing rooms and a small committee room. We need some openness and transparency from council officials.”
Mr Frampton said people have attended events at the pitches on site, but have been forced to “use the bushes for toilets” as they have not been granted use of such facilities in the centre.
Belfast City Council said after a request in 2024, they agreed to lease a portion of land to Crusaders FC who have since installed their own 3G pitch. A spokesperson for the council added: “This lease does not include access to, or use of, changing or toilet facilities in Loughside Recreation Centre.”
Craig said: “We would either like to see the site being upgraded or the building of a new centre and not what they want, just changing rooms for football.
“The pitches have been improved, the all-weather pitch which was closed for over 30 years has been done up. But people using it have no access to a toilet, which I think is a bit primitive.
“I’ve seen kids having to go into the bushes to go to the toilet. I’ve seen adults having to go to the toilet up against the building – it’s absolutely ridiculous. I couldn’t see it happening in any other area in Belfast.”
A Belfast City Council spokesperson said: “The council is currently delivering a £105 million Leisure Transformation Programme which, once complete, will see seven new and upgraded leisure centres built. Work is also underway to develop future options for the other leisure facilities not included in the current transformation programme, including Loughside Recreation Centre.
“Any decisions on the future of these centres will be taken by elected members as part of this review, following consultation with a wide range of stakeholders including local residents.
“A longstanding partnership agreement is in place between the council and Loughside FC for the use of two grass pitches, plus changing and toilet facilities at Loughside.
“Ongoing maintenance is being carried out on the roof at Grove Wellbeing Centre to manage an issue with leaks into the sports hall, but the hall remains open. A detailed survey to establish the extent of work required to fully repair this issue will be carried out in due course.”
Video by Belfast Live videographer Justin Kernoghan.
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