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Future of Dover Leisure Centre will not be discussed until the New Year

Results from a review looking into the future of Dover Leisure Centre will not be discussed publicly until the new year.

The cabinet committee at Dover District Council met on Monday morning, where it was thought the premises would be debated.

Throughout the summer, the council, along with Sport England conducted research into what is needed in a new and updated centre.

Dover Leisure Centre
Dover Leisure Centre

There are four sites in Dover that are earmarked for a new venue, the current site along Townwall Street, Whitfield, the Buckland Paper Mill site, and the Maison Dieu car park.

The centre has fallen into a state of disrepair, and the issue was discussed at a scrutiny meeting in September and again in November.

Its poor state was highlighted by membership holder Peter Ward, of Balfour Road, in Dover.

He exclusively revealed his concerns to the Mercury in November 2014, and has since gained hundreds of signatures in a petition that calls for action.

Your Leisure, which manages the site, had made efforts to ensure the hygiene was at an acceptable standard until plans for a new premises are unveiled.

In a full council meeting on Wednesday, November 25 Cllr Peter Walker, the shadow portfolio holder for leisure in Dover spoke about the quality of service given by management.

Cllr Walker said: “The council must ensure that Your Leisure is not an absent landlord and that when a new leisure centre is built for Dover we look at how well we monitor the management company, they operate at the highest standards and we have the right to cancel their contract if they are not doing well enough.

“We must also ensure that when a contract is given for the new leisure centre that it is not an automatic coronation for Your Leisure.”

A district council spokesman said: “We would stress that no decisions have been taken and that at this stage.”

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