A leisure centre will demolished to stop it becoming an "eyesore" and to make way for a brand-new facility.

Medway Council hope to create a new, modern swimming pool and gym on the site of Splashes leisure centre in Rainham.

Earlier this year, the council announced a £5 million revamp of the Bloors Lane pool had been put on hold because surveys on the site identified issues with its structure.

The decision was criticised by Labour councillors who highlighted how seven members of the centre's staff were given redundancy notices last year.

More recently, council officers concluded that not going ahead with the demolition would pose a risk of it fully or partially collapsing.

They also advocated it was the best option due to the costs of maintaining and securing the building whilst it was not in use, during which time it could become an "eyesore".

The decision was approved during a meeting of cabinet members this afternoon.

"£5 million is a substantial amount of money and was a substantial commitment to make..."

Council deputy leader Cllr Howard Doe (Con) revealed a board had been set up to analyse options on how best to facilitate the child-friendly facility featuring an "informal-style swimming pool with a flume" and a gym.

He also added during its closure over the past year, the building had been broken into and explained one of the options being looked at was making the new centre carbon neutral.

Council leader Alan Jarrett (Con) accused opposition Labour councillors of "misleading the public" into believing the redevelopment will not go ahead at all.

He said officers had advised the building had "outlived its useful life", adding: "I think it's quite clear when we committed £5 million to the refurbishment we were taking the provision of this facility very seriously indeed. £5 million is a substantial amount of money and was a substantial commitment to make."

Following the decision, a business case will be developed by the council which will need to be approved by the cabinet.

Medway Labour Group have called-in the decision to demolish the facility - which is expected to cost £343,000 which will come from the original £5 million pledged - and hope it will be discussed at a committee meeting on Thursday.

Group leader Cllr Vince Maple said: “This project has been very poorly delivered to date.

"Council agreed on a cross- party basis investment into the much-loved Splashes site of £5 million at a time of large financial pressures on local government.

"We then had the shock that hard-working staff were made redundant, with no mention of this in the council report. Now we find the cabinet seeking to agree the site will need to be demolished with no clarity on the overall cost of the project or indeed timescale."

Cllr Martin Potter (Con), who represents Rainham North, called Splashes a "cherished local facility", adding: "I am delighted the council has maintained its commitment to Splashes as a key priority, which as a brand new centre will not only provide a great facility for the next generation but for many generations to come."

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