AN agreement has been made to fund improvements at Burntwood Leisure Centre – but councillors believe more money is needed for the site.
Lichfield District Council has approved a £50,000 makeover for the changing rooms and storerooms, along with general enhancements.
Cllr Rob Strachan, cabinet member for finance and commissioning, told a meeting of the local authority that the works were now needed.
“Occasionally in the course of the council’s financial year the opportunity to deliver new projects comes up which were not in the original medium term financial strategy and which we choose to fund from within that. This is exactly one of those.
“An opportunity has a risen to refurbish the changing rooms at Burntwood Leisure Centre for a cost of £50,000.
“That cost is entirely met from the leisure centre compensation scheme reserve which is for the purpose of maintenance of our existing leisure centres.”
But Labour opposition leader Cllr Sue Woodward said that more money will need to be spent on the site.
She said:
“I have to say that [the £50,000 spend] is very much welcomed, but it isn’t the whole story.
“It’s not going to be adequate to complete those changing room refurbishments – it is going to cost £250,000.”
Andrew Smith, deputy leader and cabinet member for leisure and major projects at Lichfield District Council, said:
“The amount of money is a temporary improvement.
“You have my assurance I’m pushing and we will find that money because I think it needs about another £400,000 to do a proper job for the wet side changing.”