AN EXTRA £70,700 is to be ploughed into a project to update facilities at Stratford Park Leisure Centre in Stroud.

Stroud District Council had already pledged £388,800 to complete the works but a recent survey recommended a host of improvements totalling £459,500.

The council is constrained by the paramount need to ensure the safety of the 35-year-old building and SDC's cabinet has warned that failure to complete the work could result in some areas being closed to the public.

Members therefore approved the expenditure from financial reserves, subject to full council approving its budget for the year ahead at February's meeting, with the aim of finishing the project by the end of October.

Condition surveys are carried out every five years by the council - the latest of which was undertaken in July last year to highlight faults ahead of the centre’s new management contract being awarded on November 1.

The current management providers, Parkwood Leisure, is tasked with undertaking some of the improvements and has indicated it will spend around £20,000 on these in addition to its daily maintenance responsibilities.

Among the work planned is the installation of a new ventilation system for the pool and changing room and new poolside and gym windows, both of which will ultimately save on running costs.

A new fire door will also be fitted and repairs will be carried out to stop leaks in the steam room and toddler pool.

SDC’s total investment will be split between £288,130 in the remainder of this financial year and a further £100,670 after April – plus the additional £70,700.

Cllr Keith Pearson, deputy leader and cabinet member for regeneration, said: "The current contract for management of the leisure centre is coming to an end, so we are in the process of assessing the facility and making necessary repairs and improvements.

"Work will be carried out during the centre’s quieter times and disruption to customers will be kept to a minimum."