Facilities to stay open as centre operator agreed

The swimming pool and existing gym space will be closed throughout the redevelopment

An interim operator has been appointed for a leisure centre in Kent, which prevents a sports hall and tennis centre from temporarily closing.

On Thursday, Dover District Council's (DDC) cabinet agreed that Your Leisure could oversee the facilities at Tides Leisure Centre in Deal while major plans for a £20m development of a new centre progressed.

Kevin Mills, DDC's leader, said: "In November 2022, the council was told this project was undeliverable, yet we're now delivering this much-needed and overdue facility for the community."

It was also agreed that a tendering process would be carried out to find an operator to begin from April 2026 for "dryside facilities", and from the summer of 2027 for the full operation.

Plans for the new leisure centre, which were agreed in January, include a six-lane pool with toddler splash pad and an extensive range of health and fitness facilities.

At the meeting it was agreed that while the project progressed, the swimming pool and gym would close when Your Leisure's existing lease ended on 1 April.

The decision was also made to close the tennis centre and sports hall for nine months while a new management contract was agreed as no financially viable option was available to keep the facilities open, DCC said.

Since the January meeting, two operators, including Your Leisure, came forward with proposals to keep the indoor tennis centre and sports hall open during the interim.

The local Conservative group said had been "public outcry" due to the potential temporary closures.

Although these facilities will now remain open, the swimming pool and existing gym space will be closed throughout the redevelopment period from 1 April.

DDC said demolition work was due to begin as soon as possible with the aim of opening the leisure centre in the summer of 2027.