A leisure centre's redevelopment remains in doubt with fears it may need to be demolished.

Last month, it was announced a £5 million revamp of Splashes in Rainham had been temporarily put on hold.

The decision to pause the plans was criticised by Labour councillors who highlighted how seven members of the centre's staff were given redundancy notices, but the ruling Conservative administration said they remained committed to the facility.

The scheme was approved during a full council meeting last July.

Cllr Andy Stamp (Lab), Medway Labour Group's spokesman for regeneration and communities, said: "An intrusive structural survey identified more extensive structural problems than they originally envisaged."

An email seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service details how an issue had been identified with the building's girders.

Cllr Stamp criticised the council for what he speculated was not fully costing the project before it was embarked on, and said the centre had suffered from a "lack of investment for many years".

He added: "That's the problem, they don't know if they need to demolish the building completely or if they can replace the structure.

"The residents of Rainham and Twydall were promised it would be open within 18 months and that promise is now in tatters; they have no idea when they are going to be able to use the leisure centre and 18 months is totally out of the window."

Ward councillor Martin Potter (Con) said: "They started looking at the structure they couldn't look at when the centre was open and they discovered issues and that's why it's been put on hold.

"I hope to hear back in the next couple of months on the way forward but this sort of work does take time so it can't be rushed.

"I used to use it regularly so I would like it back in Rainham as soon as possible.

"The demand for a pool and leisure facility is still there."

The changes announced in the original refurbishment plan included modern changing facilities, spaces for activities such as party rooms, solar power and rainfall collections, updating and renewing the aquatic play equipment and providing a new café/coffee shop.

Cllr Potter said he thought the centre was dated and among the changes he would like to see was a revamped café, ideally facing onto neighbouring Cozenton Park rather than the centre's car park where it had been.

Cllr Howard Doe (Con), portfolio holder for community service, previously said surveys were being analysed to help the council decide on the best way forward, and the revamp plans formed part of Medway's ambition to become a child-friendly city.

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