Refurbished? Where? (From Stroud News and Journal)

Refurbished? Where?

STRATFORD park leisure centre is not fit for the public despite a £1 million refurbishment, according to a Stonehouse mum.

She claimed no visible improvements had been made and conditions in the centre were shoddy and inadequate.

The woman, who did not want to be named to protect her daughter, said: "My seven-year-old goes to a gym class there every week.

"I moaned about the state of the room and after a great deal of fuss it was cleaned for us.

"But I have also had to complain about the toilets in the public area.

"They were shut off for some time then after the refurbishment there was no toilet door.

"The basins are supposed to be new but they don't look it. "Last time I went there they were dirty, as were the toilets and floors.

"There were no locks on the doors and there was water everywhere." The woman added the cafe was too cold to sit in.

She said she complained to staff - and found they agreed with her.

She said: "I know I am not the only one so demoralised. "One of the staff told me he agreed with everything I said.

"I was told the refurbishment was very over budget even though as far as I can see they haven't done anything.

"There's an awful new cafe and they've slapped paint on here and there but it's not much. "The people of Stroud deserve better than this."

Karen Toole, Stroud District Council's new head of culture, sport and tourism, said she accepted there had been problems caused by the refurbishment work but said these would hopefully soon be resolved.

She said: "The whole site is coming to the end of a major building project, which is difficult to manage.

"We are looking forward to getting the builders off and using the centre to capacity again. "This is likely to be February 15."

Ms Toole refused to comment on spending until final evaluations had been completed. She added that people should draw complaints to the attention of the site manager.

She said: "If things aren't clean, we need to know so something can be done there and then."

Leisure centre general manager Brian Lippett agreed with Ms Toole.

He said: "I have had no similar complaints, but if people do have a legitimate cause to complain the best thing to do is talk to the staff on duty."