A gym could be ditched at a popular leisure centre which will be completely redeveloped from scratch.

Medway councillor Howard Doe (Con) said Splashes in Rainham would remain a children's fun pool but other features such as the gym will be assessed in terms of how profitable they could prove to be.

Last month, Medway Council announced a multi-million revamp of the Bloors Lane pool had been put on hold leading to doubts about its future.

The decision was criticised by Labour councillors who highlighted how seven members of the centre's staff were given redundancy notices last year.

The £5 million scheme was approved during a full council meeting last July.

Cllr Howard Doe (Con), portfolio holder for housing and community services, addressed a meeting of the council's Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee yesterday evening in which he reiterated the ruling Conservative's dedication to the project.

He said whilst the council were originally of the view a refurbishment was required, surveys found the roof and the foundations were not adequate.

Cllr Doe, the council's deputy leader, said: "So there's no hope for it but to change our view on that, and to now go for a full redevelopment.

"It should end up as a better pool as a result because it will be all designed newly from scratch.

"That will inevitably take longer but we couldn't have foreseen that."

The Rainham South councillor explained how over the spring and summer months, architects would be approached to create designs for the centre.

Cllr Doe said: "If we just went ahead and put a gym in, we know that whereas before they were something the market was clamouring for, at the moment the future of gyms is less certain because people do gym now at home so we will have to research that in more detail."

Cllr Andy Stamp (Lab), Medway Labour Group's spokesman for regeneration and communities, said: "Expectations haven't been managed and there are a lot of disappointed people who thought they would be seeing a new leisure centre open early next year and that clearly isn't going to be happening any longer.

"The damage that's been done is those disappointed residents who expected to see the leisure centre reopen."

Members of the committee were also told how the Strand open-air pool - which was closed last year due to the pandemic - will likely re-open with a booking system this year in order to manage capacity.

Councillors also asked whether it was a good idea to extend the opening hours of the Gillingham pool - which also celebrates its 125th anniversary year.

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