Consultation on a planned leisure centre for Whitfield began on Tuesday and continues for three weeks.

A series of consultation events at the present Dover Leisure Centre, in Townwall Street, and Whitfield Village Hall will culminate with the plans being on show at the Port of Dover Community Regatta on July 23.

People can also view the scheme and take a short questionnaire on Dover District Council’s website.

The plans have been developed after a detailed review of leisure facilities across the district with an assessment of potential sites.

The council’s preferred location is a 2.5 hectare site in Whitfield where, it says, a bigger and better leisure centre can be built. The proposals include:

A county standard competition swimming pool with tiered seating for 250 people.

A learner pool with a moveable floor, and a clip-and-climb wall.

A four-court sports hall and two outdoor artificial pitches for five-a-side football.

A 120-station gym, spin studio and two squash courts.

Three multi-activity studios and a sauna and steam room.

A cafe and flexible space for community use and event hire.

Free parking for a minimum of 250 vehicles.

Drop-in sessions are being hosted for local people to see the plans, complete a questionnaire and speak to the project team.

A workshop is also being hosted for representatives from sports clubs and town and parish councils.

The drop-in sessions will be held at:

Dover Leisure Centre – 5pm to 8pm, Thursday, July 14; 9am to noon; Saturday, July 16; 10am to 1pm, Tuesday, July 19.

Whitfield Village Hall, Manley Close – 9am to noon, Thursday July 21.

n Port of Dover Community Regatta, Dover Seafront – 10am to 6pm, Saturday, July 23.

Cllr Trevor Bartlett, portfolio holder for property management, said: “These are exciting plans for a bigger and better leisure centre to enhance facilities across the district, including what will be Kent’s only county standard competition swimming pool.

“We want to know what people think of the plans and how they can be refined before we finalise them in the autumn.”

This consultation will close at midnight on July 24.

The results will be presented to the council’s cabinet meeting on Monday, September 5 when a decision will be taken.

A second round of consultation is expected this autumn.