ATTENDANCES at Nithsdale leisure facilities swelled to 555,000 in just nine months last year.
Sports lovers and fitness fanatics flocked in huge numbers to the DG1 complex, Dumfries Ice Bowl, and Hillview Leisure Centre in Kelloholm.
The total figures for attendances at these Nithsdale indoor facilities, from April-December 2024, reached 555,511 – and increase of 9.3 percent on the same period in 2023.
A report for this week’s Nithsdale area committee said: “DG1, Hillview and Dumfries Ice Bowl all noted an increase in attendances during this reporting period in comparison to the previous year.
“An increase in health and fitness memberships as sites continue to regain normality post-covid is a contributing factor.
“This along with an increase in sports hall birthday party hires, court hires and meeting room usage contributed to the increase in attendances.
“There continues to be a positive impact on attendances through the growth in coaching and particularly around gymnastics and ice sports.”
The breakdown of attendances is as follows (with 2023 figures in brackets): DG1 – 311,657 (288,430); Ice Bowl – 200,946 (182,122); Hillview – 19,514 (16,572).
Similarly, the number of attendances at swimming pools in Nithsdale has also gone up.
Between April and December last year, there were a total of 276,550 attendances – an increase of 15.5 percent on the same period in 2023.
The council report explains: “The improvements in attendance attributed to a number of factors including an increase in swim meets at DG1, which hosted two West District Swim Weekend Meets and the Scottish Schools Swimming Relays Championships, which delivers large volume of attendees.
“Further, an increase in education swimming across primary and secondary school provision, plus supported learners sessions and a growth in health and fitness memberships, were all attributing factors.”
Meanwhile, more than 300 people in Nithsdale benefitted from free warm winter clothing in recent months.
Six free warm winter clothes events were held by the council throughout November and December 2024.
Two were staged in Nithsdale – at Sanquhar Town Hall and a pop-up shop in Dumfries High Street – resulting in more than 900 items of new and pre-loved warm winter clothes being redistributed.
