A plan to spend £3m renovating a leisure centre will go ahead despite claims the work will be a mere sticking plaster.

Sutton Council last night agreed to spend the money repairing Cheam Leisure Centre but opposition Conservative councillors criticised the decision and called for a new facility to be built instead.

Liberal Democrats out-voted the Conservatives, which means the Malden Road centre will be temporarily closed while the leaking roof is repaired, new plaster work is carried out and a new ventilation system is fixed.

The reception area will be renovated, a new filter will be fitted in the pool and there will be repairs to brickwork and guttering.

Liberal Democrats say the work will extend the centre's life by up to 25 years.

But the Conservatives said money would be better spent replacing the centre, which was built in the 30s, with a fully revamped one in the mould of the Westcroft centre in Carshalton, opened earlier this year.

Councillor Stuart Gordon-Bullock said: "The west of the borough needs equal treatment to the east, otherwise or children will not learn to swim.

"Does the [Lib Dem] party opposite me have it in for residents in the west of the borough?"

 

The Conservatives illustrated their arguments about Cheam Leisure Centre requiring more than just renovation work with a picture of the building with a sticking plaster superimposed on it.

The Tories tabled a motion to explore the possibility of a larger-scale revamp but this was voted down and the plans for the £3m renovation were given the green light.

Coun Jill Whitehead (Lib Dem) said: "This is fantastic news for the people of Cheam who will benefit from this significant upgrade to their leisure centre.

"It is a shame that the facility will to have to close on a temporary basis, but it makes sense to do all the improvement works all at once. I know it will be worth the wait."

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