A leisure centre blighted by closure fears is to remain open for the next decade - and is set to enjoy a £2.6m investment.

Tenterden Leisure Centre has served sports lovers since being formally opened by Princess Diana in October 1990.

Freedom Leisure - which also runs the Stour Centre, Julie Rose Stadium and Spearpoint Pavilion in Ashford - had a contract to remain in charge for a two-year "interim" period which was due to end in April 2025.

However, this has now been extended for a further decade and will see the site remain in use until 2035.

The facility in Recreation Ground Road features a multi-purpose sports hall, swimming pool, jacuzzi, water flumes and a health suite with a sauna.

Freedom Leisure’s CEO, Ivan Horsfall Turner, believes the extension will benefit residents and its visitors for years to come.

“We’re delighted to have been awarded the management contract by Ashford Borough Council (ABC) for an initial 10-year term,” he said.

“Since we have been managing the leisure centre on an interim basis, we have seen an increase in footfall across all areas of the facility.

“We have been overwhelmed by the positive feedback from the community on the improvements we’ve made to date and continue to do so.

“Between the council and ourselves, we have committed to a significant investment throughout the life of the contract to better the facilities and we look forward to further improving the lives of the people of Tenterden through leisure.”

The new contract will see £2.6 million of investment into the centre from both ABC and Freedom Leisure.

Planned improvements include the introduction of a soft play area, new and improved water features in the pools, a new reception and catering area and a complete modernisation of the pool changing facilities.

Visitors will also benefit from new equipment in the gym and an upgraded group exercise studio.

ABC’s portfolio holder for recreation and representative for Rolvenden and Tenterden West, Cllr Kate Walder (Green), added: “Tenterden Leisure Centre is an important community facility providing sporting and physical activity opportunities to residents and visitors to Tenterden and the surrounding area.

“That’s why we have spent time procuring a new leisure operator to provide first-rate facilities for our residents.

“We are looking forward to working with Freedom Leisure to continue to evolve and improve our leisure offering to help our residents have healthy active lifestyles.”

In April last year, ABC announced Freedom Leisure would replace previous operators, Tenterden Leisure Trust (TLT) and Serco.

It came following months of uncertainty due to a lengthy stand-off between TLT and the authority.

Following what centre manager Jordan Garland described as "one of the most challenging periods in the history [of the centre]", a relaunch in September 2022 saw a completely renewed roof installed alongside a refreshed interior at the cost of almost £2 million.

However, the swimming pool was forced to close again at the start of December 2022 after debris fell from the roof.

Its continued closure meant it had only been open in three of the 18 months up to April 2023.

It led to ABC serving notice it would be cutting funding to the trust and Serco, which served notice to cease its contract with the trust to operate the centre in February 2023 prior to the takeover by Freedom Leisure.