Was the decision to close Maysfield leisure centre sectarian

antrim | rights, freedoms and repression | opinion/analysis

Wednesday September 01, 2004 00:06

by sharp

As a protestant who used Maysfield leisure centre, the decision to close Maysfield leisure centre appears blatantly sectarian against the nearby catholic community close to the centre and protestants who chose to use the centre because of its convenience.

I must now travel miles to Avoniel or Andytown leisure centre to train. How many working class families can afford the taxi/bus fare to Avoniel leisure centre or Andytown leisure centre, especially Andytown.

If you look at the location of leisure centres throughout Belfast, we find that the working class protestant community is served by the Avoniel, Grove, Shankill, Valley, Olympia and Robinson leisure centres and private martial arts clubs such as Pro kick and fighting fit both of which are located in the predominantly protestant east belfast.

Deprived working class catholic communities only have the Beechmount and Andytown leisure centres, both of which are miles away from areas such as the Short strand, lower ormeau in south belfast , and areas such as Ardoyne and New lodge in North belfast. How many working class families from these areas can afford to travel to Beechmount and Andytown leisure centres.

Some sports clubs based in Maysfield have lost at least half their class intake , due to Maysfield closing. Some members don't feel safe trainning in Avoniel leisure centre and others don't feel safe trainning at Andytown leisure centre. Many just can't afford to travel the distance to these leisure centres.

Maysfield was unique in that it served both the nearby catholic community, protestants and others who found it convenient.

It seems the poor and some of the most deprived catholic communities in south and north belfast are being denied accessible affordable exercise leisure and sport facilities, pushing the poor out of sport and making it another exclusive domain for the rich and well off.