Consultation on improvements to leisure facilities in Grantham have been delayed...again.

Initially promised to get underway in March last year, South Kesteven District Council then announced in September that the start date had been put back to January this year - as that month was the busiest at Meres Leisure Centre.

But today (Mon), SKDC head of leisure Karen Whitfield, who joined the local authority in November to deliver its programme of leisure improvements, confirmed that consultation will now not start until district-wide feasibility work is concluded.

She did not give an indication of when this will be.

She told Grantham Nub News: "Feasibility work is continuing regarding leisure facilities across the district as a whole.

"As part of this SKDC is assessing the condition of each centre and how they can be improved in order to satisfy community demand and modern customer expectations."

Reports have been commissioned to assess current gaps in provision and the projected increase in usage for each centre once those gaps have been addressed.

"This has resulted in a series of options being explored, including refurbishment of existing facilities and new builds, while being mindful that any necessary capital investment needs to be on a sound financial footing and provide value for money for residents of South Kesteven," she added.

SKDC's's leisure management arrangements are under review as its current contract is coming to an end.

Arrangements are being made to secure continued provision in the short-term, but also assess how a longer-term arrangement can add value to the proposed schemes of improvements.

"No decisions on any of the sites have been made at this stage and once the feasibility work is complete a series of engagement and consultation sessions will be scheduled across the district to ensure that residents and partner organisations are able to contribute prior to any final proposals being determined.

"The proposed consultation for Grantham will, therefore, take place at the same time, and in parallel with, the other towns."

The consultation looks likely to consider options for a smaller facility in the town centre, a refurbishment of the existing centre, or a new facility on the current Meres site.

Originally, when plans for a multi-million pound overhaul of leisure facilities in the district were announced last March by former council leader Coun Matthew Lee, SKDC said it was considering bringing the swimming pool into the town, leaving the stadium, pitches and car parking at the Meres site.