FROM Wednesday this week Girvan Town House Visitor Information Centre will be open twice a week to allow sports enthusiasts to register for The Quay Zone.

The centre will be open each Wednesday and Thursday from 1pm until 4pm to allow locals to sign up for swimming, the gym and/other classes.

There will also be the chance to register for swimming lessons. This is expected to continue, with the possibility of the odd evening until the centre opens.

Those interested are encouraged to pop in and ask questions and if you wish to take out a membership this is where to leave your name.

You can still add your name to the swimming lesson list via Facebook and email.

It won't long until the centre finally opens for business. The building will cost a total of 6 million pounds (including all furniture and equipment), and is in the final phases of construction. 

The new building, which will be operated by South Carrick Community Leisure (SCCL) through a service level agreement, will transform leisure and community facilities across the area. 

It will be home to a 25 metre swimming pool, soft play area, superb fitness gym, flexible multi-purpose studio/community space, changing facilities and cafe.

The build is currently on target and is due to be completed towards the end of March 2017 with the Leisure Centre opening Mid April.

New jobs will be filled during February and March.

This story started in 2009 South Ayrshire Council closed the run down existing Swimming pool, and after a protracted argument demolished it. 

There was a large and extremely loud public outcry which lead the council to pledge in December 2010, 4 million pounds towards a new 8 million pound multi-faceted centre to include a swimming pool and gathering space that could have multiple uses. 

South Carrick Community Leisure (SCCL) was formed in 2011 to represent the community and to raise a matching 4 million pounds.

In early 2012 the SCCL Constitution was completed and by May in the same year OSCR registration was achieved. 

A design competition was held which was won by architects Page and Park, the design went through a number of iterations and a stage C design was presented to the public in November 2012.

In January 2013 a feasability study was completed and in February 2013 the Business Plan completed. Following a few months of inaction and the resignation of the SCCL chairman an Executive committee was formed in May 2013 made up of the Leader of the council, senior council officers and representatives of SCCL to get the project back on track. It is hoped SCCL will open this Spring.