The board chair at Sandys 360 has confirmed that efforts to try and save the failed sports centre are ongoing.

Close to ten years after it closed its doors to the public, Sandys 360 is sitting in a dilapidated state with crumbling infrastructure ravaged by mould and rust.

The Government confirmed yesterday that it has no intention of stepping in and purchasing the property.

Travis Gilbert, the board chair told The Royal Gazette: “We are working on a solution to the Sandys 360 community project. However, we have nothing to report at this time.”

Speaking to the board being made up of trustees of Sandys Secondary Middle School, Mr Gilbert added: “We continue to support all efforts to provide quality education in the western parishes.”

The Sandys 360 Sports, Aquatic and Enrichment Centre opened in September 2009 but closed in November 2013 because it was unable to make ends meet.

The centre was backed by government money, including a duplicate payment of $807,000 in 2012, but the centre was still unable to cover its bills.

In February 2018, a $1 million sale and purchase agreement between the Government and Sandys Secondary Middle School for the property was tabled by Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch, the Minister of Public Works.

It was reported in July 2019 that negotiations with HSBC, the mortgage lender, had stalled “as a result of a third party laying a claim to some indebtedness from the trustees of Sandys 360”.

In June 2021, the Government abandoned the plan to purchase Sandys 360. Colonel Burch told Parliament the purchase had been complicated by outstanding debt.

A KPMG report into the centre revealed that almost $6 million of public money was ploughed into it before April 2014.

Colonel Burch said last year that the purchase was further complicated by legal advice received by the Government, which suggested the sports centre's board of governors would have a say in the future of the site even after a sale.

He added: “If that is the case, and I will put you on notice, we ain't buying it.”