Trustees at a popular leisure centre in Ashford have confirmed that it will close on Saturday until later this year after a new operator pulled out of the centre's takeover process.

The managing contract at Kingsnorth Recreation Centre in Field View, Park Farm, held by Ashford Leisure Trust - which also manages the Julie Rose Stadium and The Stour Centre - ends this Friday.

It was set to be taken over by a new operator on Saturday, but the new company pulled out with less than two weeks to go.

The Kingsnorth Recreation Centre Trust have now confirmed that planned works will still go ahead at the centre to improve facilities, which was agreed by Ashford Borough Council earlier this year costing nearly £130,000.

Trevor Measday, Chairman of Trustees at Kingsnorth Recreation Centre, said: "It is with regret that the Trustees have taken the decision to partially close the Kingsnorth Recreation Centre as of Saturday, April 1 until late September 2017.

"The parish office and Little Acorns Nursery will remain open during the works.

"This decision was taken due to the inability to appoint a suitable Operator to take on the terms of the Transfer of Undertakings and Protection of Employee Regulations (TUPER) from Ashford Leisure Trust (ALT).

"Local and national Operators have declined to undertake the requirements of the applicable TUPE regulations.

"Ashford Borough Council and Kingsnorth Parish Council have provided support in trying to find a way of overcoming this hurdle without success.

"It has been the plan since September 2016 to partially close the centre to carry out extensive works inside and out.

"The conditions have been met to start this plan now.

"It is likely to take until late September 2017 to complete the work. During this time the Trustees' solicitor will work to provide a solution to the difficulties of appointing a suitable Operator.

"The trustees are committed to providing a modern facility for the community of Kingsnorth."

Ashford Leisure Trust has confirmed jobs at the centre are now at risk.

Emma Wood, Chief Executive, Ashford Leisure Trust, said: “I can confirm that, regrettably, Ashford Leisure Trust (ALT) will not be managing the operation at Kingsnorth Recreation Centre (KRC) from the 1 April.

"Our contract with the Kingsnorth Recreation Centre Trust (KRC Trust) to manage the centre ends on Friday March 31 and has not been renewed.

“At this stage we are unable to confirm the future of the site. We had commenced the process of transferring our 15 members of staff employed at the centre under TUPE to a new operator.

"Unfortunately last week, with only two weeks left until the end of our contract, ALT was advised that this operator had pulled out of the process.

"The KRC Trust Chairman has advised that there is no other incoming operator and therefore the KRC Trust is likely to close the centre from Saturday, April 1.

“The situation ALT now finds itself in is deeply unfortunate and has been created by the KRC Trust.

"Our staff currently working at Kingsnorth Recreation Centre are now at risk of redundancy through no fault of their own" - Emma Wood, Ashford Leisure Trust

"Our staff currently working at Kingsnorth Recreation Centre are now at risk of redundancy through no fault of their own. We are making every effort where possible to find the staff alternative positions within ALT, but it is highly unlikely that we will be able to absorb all of the staff members into new positions.

“We are also unable to give our current customers at KRC any assurances regarding the future of the site and they will need to contact the KRC trustees or Kingsnorth Parish Council for confirmation.

“ALT is, of course, very keen to try to ensure the continued provision of services and memberships to our customers and it is possible that this can be offered at the Stour Centre or Julie Rose Stadium."

Ashford Leisure Trust is an independent registered charity, and managed Kingsnorth Recreation Centre for the Kingsnorth Recreation Centre Trust since 2006.

It took over from Serco Leisure following their sudden withdrawal from managing the centre at short notice.

The centre is home to a gym as well as a large hall with a kitchen facility, and is has been used for children's parties, fitness classes, drama rehearsals and parent and toddler clubs.

The recreation centre in Field View will have a manned reception area from 10am until 5pm on Saturday through to Thursday April 13 to deal with member enquires.

Also, Ashford Leisure Trust have said that members, casual users and hirers should contact the Stour Centre on 01233 667121 if they would like to discuss the options available to them further.