Residents have welcomed the proposed overhaul of a leisure centre – but say while upgrades are needed it will be a shame to see the loss of the “fun bits”.

It comes as the next phase of the planning process to demolish and rebuild part of the ageing Tides Leisure Centre, in Deal, has been launched with a series of public engagement sessions.

The renovation project is estimated to cost £19 million and will see a five-lane 25m swimming pool installed at the Park Avenue site, plus new health and fitness stations, toning tables, multi-activity and spin studios, and café area. Documents show a sixth lane for the pool is also being considered.

If all goes ahead, the new leisure centre could open by 2027.

But in a sad blow, the existing wave pool, flume, smaller slides and sauna room will be removed.

Speaking at Tides on Monday, during the first of a series of drop-in sessions, users welcomed the planned upgrades, but agreed it will be a shame to see the slides removed.

Deal resident Eric DeWitt said: “We do need some improvements on the facilities. Half are not working anymore. As I have a young child who's six, it’s a bit of a shame to see the fun bit going away.

“But on the other hand, I understand why they're doing it and bringing in more lanes, which I think is a good opportunity.”

Wendy Squire, who has lived in Deal all her life, saw the merits of the five-lane pool but feared children could get bored.

She said: “Children have to go out of town if they want to do competition swimming there.

“If they can do it within their own home town, I think that would be good.

“I do think that the centre needs to be a bit more children-friendly. They did say they were going to bring inflatables in like they have in Dover [District Leisure Centre in Whitfield], but we'll see what that's like.

“They just need that excitement for children because they're going to get bored if it's just a swimming pool.”

Philip Cavell, of Deal, who uses the centre for swimming, said: “This could only be for the better. It probably does need a bit of updating.

“It's been like it since it was built. The loss of things like the slide doesn’t bother me but obviously, for the kids, it's their bit of pleasure.

“But it can only be better, what they’re planning.”

In contrast, locals this paper spoke to in July said they would stop using the centre if the slides were removed.

Dover District Council (DDC) is behind the plans for Tides, which have been in the works since 2018.

A consultation document from DDC said leisure activities “in and around the pool” are being considered.

It said: “Dover District Council’s cabinet have given the go ahead to progress exciting plans for a £19m project for new facilities at the Tides Leisure Centre site, with further consideration to be given to a six lane pool and ways to develop leisure activities in and around the pool.”

Tides opened in 1987 but is now ageing with deteriorating equipment.

Much of the current centre will need to be demolished to allow the proposed new centre to be built.

The leisure pool will have to close while the new build work is completed, but dry-side facilities will be maintained as far as as possible.

Alternative options are being explored, such as temporarily accommodating the gym in the sports hall or indoor tennis centre, while the new build work is carried out.

Proposals were initiated in 2018 but progress was disrupted, like all parts of life, by the Covid-19 pandemic two years later. Plans were further developed in 2022 when a series of consultation events were held over design concepts. The present consultation continues until Sunday, October 20.

Cllr Kevin Mills (Lab), leader of DDC, said: “We are delighted to move this exciting project to the next stage of development, and to be launching this latest round of public engagement.

“This is a great opportunity for our communities to get involved. We are listening to our local communities and are pleased to be giving further consideration to proposals for the leisure centre in Deal.

“We are working hard to make the new leisure centre deliverable in what has been a difficult financial climate, and to listen to what people want for the future.”

The remaining drop-in events at Tides Leisure Centre are from 10am to 1pm tomorrow (Thursday), 11am to 2pm on Saturday and 10am to 1pm on Wednesday, October 2. Another is at Deal Market from 8am to 2pm on Saturday, October 5.

In the town's High Street they are from 10am to 2pm near Costa Coffee on Tuesday, October 8 and near Superdrug on Monday, October 14.

One more is at Dover District Leisure Centre from 9am to 12pm and 4pm to 7pm on Thursday, October 10.