Plans to expand a council owned leisure centre in Christchurch have been deferred by councillors seeking further detail.
Two Riversmeet Leisure Centre is the only Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council run leisure centre in Christchurch and one of five sites operated directly by the authority, offering swimming pools, a fitness suite, football pitches, squash courts and an indoor cycling studio.
The centre does not have a purpose built exercise studio, meaning classes currently take place in squash courts and the sports hall, an issue highlighted as a priority for improvement in an independent review carried out in two thousand and twenty two.
Proposals would see two new studios added, each designed to hold between thirty and forty people per class, increasing the number and range of activities that could take place alongside other functions at the site.
Introducing the report to the audit and governance committee on January fifteen, Councillor Richard Herrett said the sports hall and squash courts had been described as “suboptimal for classes” during previous assessments of the building.
Councillors questioned whether the plans offered value for money and asked for more clarity on alternative options and how figures were calculated, with Councillor Armstrong saying there was a need for extra reassurance based on past experiences.
The committee voted to defer the item pending further information, including a business case and options appraisal, with four votes in favour, three against and one abstention.
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