Staff at a council-run leisure centre have been made redundant after it was closed to make way for a multi-million pound makeover.

A £5 million redevelopment is currently under way at Splashes in Rainham.

Whilst it remains closed, Medway Council officers have deemed keeping on some staff members would not be financially viable.

Councillors approved funding to give the centre in Bloors Lane a revamp during a full council meeting in July.

As such, members of Medway Labour Group have criticised the job losses.

Cllr Andy Stamp, the group's spokesman for regeneration and communities said: "It’s really disappointing to see these redundancies take place just months after we were asked to vote on a redevelopment of this scale.

"The loss of employment for Medway residents is always unwelcome, but this information would have shaped the nature of our vote back in July."

Peter Appleton, assistant director of culture and community at the council said: “Unfortunately, as Splashes is closed for major redevelopment and is not expected to reopen until 2022, it is not financially viable to retain all the staff who worked at the centre.

"We have carried out a formal consultation process with staff affected and we have been able to offer some employees suitable positions at one of our other sports centres.

"However, regrettably we do not have sufficient vacancies for every former Splashes employee and redundancy notices have been issued.

"We will continue to work with trade unions to offer support to affected staff.”

The redevelopment will see a new cafe installed at the centre, as well as enlargement of the changing facilities and upgrades to the swimming pool flume.

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