The cost of swim sessions at a new council-run leisure centre is “scaring” some families away who claim £45 for a shared pass is just “too expensive”.

When Cozenton Park Sports Centre, formerly Splashes in Rainham, opened in July to the tune of £22.15million it was championed as a state-of-the-art facility with “the most accessible swimming pool” in north Kent.

But high prices appear to be putting parents off going this autumn half-term with hundreds of slots left unbooked during some swim sessions.

Stuart Bourne, spokesman for the Medway Lib Dem group, has reiterated his concerns with the council.

He believes the prices are too steep and are causing families to either go to other cheaper swimming pools, or to stay away entirely.

Mr Bourne said: “From my own personal experience and speaking to a lot of people, the pool has been very, very under-capacity at the moment and we’re very concerned it’s not getting the customers needed to make it financially viable.

“We’ve always had concerns about the pricing and we warned the council about pricing when they put their budget out in April, and it seems maybe our warnings have come true and they’re just not getting the customers.

“Speaking to people in Rainham, they just can’t afford the prices.”

Medway Council says it continues to review programmes across all its centres and welcomes feedback.

It added that during the holidays it is continuing to run its Family Swim sessions which lets children swim for £1 when accompanied by a paying adult.

But while some discounts are available people criticised the regular cost of Fun Splash - which gives access to the leisure pool and swimming pool including waves and flume - which is £12.50 for adults, £10.35 for those under 16 and over 60s, and £10.10 for people with disabilities.

Tickets for a non-member family – consisting of a family of four, two parents and two children – will set people back £45.70.

In comparison, the same ticket for casual users at Larkfield Leisure Centre, which also consists of two adults and two children, costs just £29.60. At Mote Park Leisure Centre in Maidstone, the same thing costs £30.

Mr Bourne blasted the swim sessions as being the preserve of the “wealthy” and believes the prices are causing potential customers to travel to cheaper centres.

He added: “In a period where we’ve got a cost-of-living crisis and people are pinching their pennies, they’re going to look away and say, actually, I can do the same experience a lot cheaper just a short drive away.

“We spent a lot of taxpayers’ money on this and it was going to be an exciting new project people could go to and they’re completely disappointed.

“They turn up and they can’t afford to go and it feels like this facility is only for the wealthy of Medway to use.”

Likewise, parents the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) spoke to in Rainham also said they had been excited for the centre, but prices were too steep.

Danny Roscoe, 43, said: “We’d like to go there because it’s just around the corner from us, but we haven’t because it’s too expensive.

“We’ve had a look at the family bits and bits for the children, and it’s 30 to 40 quid for a family to go there, and we haven’t got money to do that.

“When it first opened we thought it was going to be for the community but I don’t know many people who have been there.”

Sean Tong, 49, said he’d gone elsewhere, including to Sheerness and Faversham, because even with the travel it’s still cheaper.

He said: “Prior to the refurb, Splashes was a reasonable price, but now I’ve checked online and just for one session, for 75 minutes, it costs about £27.

“That contains play time as well as changing time, and 75 minutes is not long enough.

“I’ve been going to Sheerness swimming pool, where you can stay there for 90 minutes at least, and that is only just under £20. I’ve done the same at Faversham - at Cozenton you’re getting less value for your money.

“I understand the council needs to claim back costs but, at that price, I think you’re going to be scaring more people away and, in the long term, making a loss.”

A Medway Council spokesperson said: “Since opening in July, more than 2,000 people have signed up for memberships at Cozenton Park Sports Centre.

“As well as our members taking advantage of the facilities on offer, non-members are able to book classes and swimming sessions online seven days in advance, however, many also choose to book on the day or day before.

“There are a number of membership options available, and during the holidays we are continuing to run our Family Swim sessions, which lets children swim for £1.

“We continually review our programmes across all of our sports centres, and always welcome feedback from customers.”

They added annual admission passes, which cost £83.60 a year and can be used at Cozenton Park, Medway Park, Strood and Hoo Sports Centres, reduce the cost of a family fun splash session from £45.70 to £29.70 for two adults and two children.