Improvements to leisure facilities in Grantham could see the swimming pool moving back into the town centre.

South Kesteven District Council (SKDC) is considering bringing 'wet facilities' into the town, leaving the stadium, pitches and car parking at the Meres site.

The initiative is part of a wider regeneration programme centred around Grantham town centre.

SKDC says mechanical and electrical installations at The Meres Leisure Centre, built in 1960 and extended in the late 1990s, are more than 25 years old. In 2015, £600,000 was spent on upgrading some areas but there is still an issue with high levels of humidity and the dated appearance of the facility which does not offer the most efficient use of space.

SKDC says it wants to make Grantham 'a leisure destination with a town centre of which people can be proud' and that a high-quality leisure and events offer in the heart of the town 'could deliver significant economic growth, attracting residents, shoppers and visitors throughout the daytime and into the evening'.

The plans for Grantham form part of a project to revolutionise leisure provision for residents across the district, unveiled today by SKDC Leader Councillor Matthew Lee.

Stamford and Market Deeping are both set to get brand new leisure centres, while Bourne Leisure Centre will be completely remodelled and refurbished.

Councillor Lee says: "We want to provide first class leisure centres for our residents, community hubs where families and friends can relax and enjoy a range of activities that bring the benefits of exercise, from physical and mental wellbeing, to achieving goals to help development.

"I want our leisure centres to go beyond gyms and studio classes. As important as these are, I want to provide facilities that become community hubs, with something for everyone, and a focus on overall health and well-being. That includes providing activities in our rural communities.

"The current leisure centres in South Kesteven's four market towns have received basic maintenance, but there hasn't been any major investment for decades and little, if any, outreach provision in rural communities. This is something I am determined to change, providing modern facilities for current and future generations that meet the needs of changing communities."

The council's recently appointed sports development officer, Dominic Fieldhouse, will be delivering a new sports strategy through the council's economic and regeneration company, InvestSK.

Mr Fieldhouse said he was excited to be working on such an ambitious project that put residents' health and well-being front and centre of plans.

"The new facilities will transform the way sport and activity is provided in the district, offering opportunities for the whole community. They will create high quality environments for people to enjoy which ultimately helps them to become more active and healthier.

"We will engage with the community and organisations who use, or want to use, our leisure centres to ensure that we provide the facilities that our residents value."

The council has undertaken detailed feasibility studies to assess the current condition of all the existing leisure buildings, their current usage, and potential locations for the new leisure centres. To maintain the existing buildings and keep them going for about 10 years, the council says, would cost millions of pounds and not offer any opportunity for revenue generation nor provide facilities to meet current or future needs.