More investment for leisure centre is on the table

Previous plans to build a leisure centre on the site at Olding Road, Bury St Edmunds, would have seen a 40-year loan taken out

West Suffolk Council is planning to invest millions of pounds to improve Bury St Edmunds Leisure Centre and bring a disused depot back into use.

A meeting on 16 July will discuss investing an extra £2.15m into the leisure centre on top of an already agreed £6.2m for maintenance and improvements.

It will also discuss plans for the disused depot on Olding Road that is costing the council £300,000 a year in holding costs, including security.

It comes after the authority scrapped plans to spend £75m on a replacement leisure centre.

The council said there had been a "provisional proposal" for a trampoline and virtual-reality experience in the former depot.

There are plans to turn more of the site into warehouse and storage space.

A major refurbishment of the leisure centre is being proposed, with the additional investment potentially giving the facility an extra 10 years of life.

A new sports hall floor, a new café and a remodelled main entrance area are part of the plans.

Diane Hind, the council's cabinet member for resources, said: "The proposal for the Olding Road site in Bury St Edmunds... fits in with the surrounding college, skatepark and leisure facilities, helping support this as a destination area for young people."

£6.2m had already been earmarked for Bury St Edmunds Leisure Centre

What do people think?

Zak Hobbs and Hayden Ingram, both 18, use the leisure centre

Zak Hobbs said he thought improved gym facilities would help attract more people.

He said: "A money injection would be good to improve the facilities. I think it would be a good investment."

Hayden Ingram said the current facilities limited how many people used the leisure centre. "The only good thing about this place is the swimming pool," he said.

Caroline Ryan said a new café would be good for families

Caroline Ryan, who uses the leisure centre, said the investment would be welcome.

"The swimming pool and changing rooms are quite outdated, so it certainly does need rejuvenating," she said.

Celine Roy, who works for the NHS, praised the leisure centre

Celine Roy said the leisure centre could attract more people, and she hoped some of the money would be used to improve the café.

"I think it would be nice if the café was a bit bigger," she said. "In the summer, lots of people want to go in there."