DG One centre is top attraction

Sep 9 2009 by Kieran Westbrook, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

NITHSDALE residents have been getting active as the number of visitors to council-run gyms and sports facilities have swelled.

The David Keswick Centre and Sanquhar FUN Pool have both pulled in more fitness fans – with a combined rise of 30 per cent over the previous year’s figures.

But it is the opening of DG One that has really got people’s pulses racing.

The multi-purpose centre has brought in a massive 416,490 into the giant facility – although that number includes those attending theatrical events.

Dumfries Ice Bowl was the second biggest sports pull, bringing in 217,471 visitors.

But while some sports venues are enjoying a boom in attendance, others are losing visitors.

Hillview Leisure Centre saw a fall of 23 per cent in their visitor numbers.

King George V also saw a small fall in attendance levels, which has been put down to the success of DG One.

The figures come as part of a Nithsdale leisure and sport progress report which will go before councillors later today.