A leisure centre at risk of closure is to get a £2.5 million upgrade, including a refurbished soft play area and cafe.

The future of Maidstone Leisure Centre in Mote Park was up in the air after the last borough council meeting where concerns over the building’s safety and costly maintenance bill were discussed.

Councillors heard the costs of maintaining the swimming pool and gym had rocketed by £1 million in the last year.

Cllr Paul Harper (Ind) called for plans for its future to be made urgently, with the risk that otherwise the facility may be forced to close.

But after the most recent meeting on Wednesday the cabinet announced it would be extending its contract with Maidstone Leisure Trust and Serco to keep all the facilities up and running.

A further £2.5 million will also be invested in the building.

The money will look to upgrade and improve gym equipment and the soft play area, create a new splash pad and refurbish the café.

The current contract is due to expire in August 2024. The extension, of up to eight years, will ensure the continued operation of facilities.

Maidstone council’s cabinet member for Communities, Leisure, and Arts, Cllr Claudine Russell, said: “The extension of the contract with the Maidstone Leisure Trust represents value for money for the taxpayer, along with the introduction of new and improved facilities at the centre.

“The capital spend will also introduce energy-saving measures to assist in cutting the carbon footprint of the building.

“The contract extension is scheduled to end when the capital investment for the new leisure centre will be available but has also taken steps to improve the offering for residents along with energy saving measures.

“The centre is structurally sound and serviceable and our investment will mean that it continues to be so for the life of the contract extension. The health and wellbeing of our residents remains one of our strategic priorities.”

Also approved by the cabinet was £1 million to bring forward plans for a new or refurbished leisure centre before the contract expires.

In the spring the centre came under fire after it emerged lots of the facilities, including flumes, slides and the wave machine, were regularly closed to visitors due to lifeguard shortages.

The 1970s building was previously described by councillors at “the most polluting building in Maidstone” due to its energy inefficiency.