A pilot project to open Dromore Community Centre at 6am is to be made permanent, with numerous local councillors describing it as a “good news story”.
And as the decision was made, there was also a request for an earlier opening time to be introduced at Gilford Community Centre.
Dromore Community Centre benefited from an investment of over £2.4 million in 2020, as part of an ABC Council strategy to upgrade and improve leisure facilities across the borough.
A pilot programme to increase opening hours began in April 2024.
At November’s Community and Wellbeing Committee, a report was tabled to provide an update, with a view to making the revised opening hours permanent.
The centre had previously opened from 8.30am to 10pm, Monday to Friday; 8.30am to 5pm on Saturdays; and 11am to 5pm on Sundays.
The pilot saw the centre opening for an additional 12 and a half hours per week, throwing open its doors at the earlier time of 6am, Monday to Friday.
The report to committee advised: “When considering the extension of the opening hours, the financial implication was considered in line with demand to balance the extension of hours. A summary of the business case was to increase the membership base by 27 people, which would offset the additional payroll and utility costs estimated to be £9.8k per annum.”
The move proved successful.
While the “growth in membership” could not be “solely attributed to the earlier opening hours”, officers believed that it was certainly a “contributing factor”.
The report noted: “The membership base in April 2024 was 908, which has increased to 983 in September 2025 — that is 75 people, which is an 8% growth, with the actual customer base growing from 1,142 to 1,563 over that timeline, which is a 36% growth.”
Officers reported that “targets outlined for the success of the pilot have been achieved” and recommended, in relation to early opening hours, that councillors “formally agree for these to become permanent”.
DUP Councillor Kyle Savage was happy to propose the recommendation.
He described it as a “good news story” and added: “It’s great to see an increase in membership within Dromore. I pass it at the odd ungodly hour in the mornings and see people using it, which is great.”
A seconder was readily waiting in the form of Alliance Deputy Lord Mayor Jessica Johnston.
She said: “It’s been a really good news story that over the past 18 months, the 6am opening hours have worked really well. It’s been really successful and is reflected in the figures.”
That said, she asked that, now the pilot hours were being made permanent, the sign at Dromore Community Centre be updated “in due course” so that it aligns with what is on the GetActiveABC app and website.
DUP Alderman Paul Rankin was also happy with the move.
But he said there were other issues — including a leaky roof and classes which needed to be resumed — that must now be addressed.
“I’m sure other councillors have been approached about these issues too, so hopefully these, or other major issues, can be addressed at the community centre,” he added.
Sinn Féin Councillor Chris McCartan, while pleased to see the success of the project in Dromore, opted to make a pitch on behalf of Gilford Community Centre.
He said: “A few of the users were just asking if the councillors or the officers could come back with maybe starting up at eight o’clock or so. It’s nine o’clock at the moment, and a few of the users were asking would we do a pilot scheme and open for about eight o’clock.”
South Lake Leisure Centre general manager Paul Coleman indicated he was prepared to “have a look at it and come back”.
“If we have to run a pilot scheme or something along the same vein, then absolutely, we can certainly look at that,” he added. “But it would be data-driven decisions.”
