Visitors grow at under threat leisure site

Hillview Leisure Centre was at the centre of an angry dispute in recent months after Dumfries and Galloway Council chiefs considered closing the building to save money. Kelloholm residents fiercely defended their leisure centre and made their feelings clear in the council’s budget consultation process – and with a petition that gained over 800 signatures. Ultimately, councillors listened as the Hillview proposal was taken off the table and other cost-cutting measures were approved instead at last week’s annual budget setting meeting. It has since come to light that attendances at Hillview Leisure Centre have grown since 2023/24. A report, due to be tabled at next week’s meeting of Nithsdale area committee, underlines the number of indoor attendances at the sports facility in the first half of the year (April 1-September 30) in each of the last three years. For 2023/24, the figure was 25,154. In 2024/25, that climbed to 26,901, and in the first half of this year the stats were 25,602. A further breakdown was given for the use of specific facilities within Hillview between April 1 and September 30 this year: Total gym attendance – 505; fitness classes – 782; sports hall – 3420; multi-use games area (MUGA) – 1695, and room hire – 438. The number of adult gym memberships taken out in the first half of the year jumped from 15 last year to 33 this year. Youth passes rose from zero to six. The number of active (discounted) memberships dropped from 68 to 21. The busy leisure facility operates Monday to Friday and includes a gym and fitness suite, an indoor sports hall, rooms for hire for meetings and parties, a play park and an outdoor multi-use games area (MUGA) with a 3G surface. When the council asked for feedback on its consultation around money-saving proposals, Kelloholm residents spoke up in defence of Hillview.