Questions over where the new leisure centre for Dover will be built, and if the town will get an Olympic-sized pool, could be answered tonight (Thursday).

The steering group appointed to discuss the future of Dover Leisure Centre, in Townwall Street, holds its first meeting at Dover District Council offices, in Whitfield, at 5pm. The meeting is open to the public.

Peter Ward, the Dover Leisure Centre campaigner whose petition led to more public participation, is the ‘voice of the people’ on the steering committee.

He said: “At the meeting, I would hope we will find out which of the sites it is 100% going to be and also iron out when we can have a proper public meeting.

“I also want to see if we can realistically have a 50-metre pool. I will be pushing for that as I do feel it will raise the profile of Dover and promote cross-continental use for competitions. A new pool would also bring tourism to the town.

“I will also revisit my idea of having maybe a tie-in with local football clubs and draw funding from the FA and the lottery.”

There are two sites proposed for a new centre, at Whitfield and Buckland Mill. Mr Ward says the new centre should be a “showpiece” for Dover and this can only be achieved at Whitfield.

He said: “This meeting is my opportunity and I will try to get my ideas across but we need to see if Dover District Council has ambition or is going for a safe, more or less identical centre, or an all-singing, all-dancing showpiece to raise Dover’s profile.”

He said that, with the St James’ development and Dover’s Western Docks regeneration, Dover was on the up and any plans should reflect this.

Mr Ward, who runs a gaming review website, said: “I think if the decision is Whitfield they have ambition but if it’s the mill they are going safe. I just think the mill is not big enough and there would be no room for expansion.

“If they are thinking of including a 50-metre pool then Whitfield should be the site. With the ever-growing Dover and new housing at Whitfield coming, it would make sense.”

Mr Ward estimated it could cost £14 million with basic facilities and £20 million with the Olympic-sized pool.

The next stage will be the results of a public consultation and site visits by the council. There will be discussions on the need to renovate or replace the centre, what the existing facility has to offer, and the demand for indoor sport.

There will also be a chance for the group to consider the draft indoor sports facility strategy and feasibility report.