A council has u-turned on plans to shut all facilities at a leisure centre for nine months, sparking joy among sports groups.

Dover District Council (DDC) planned to close Tides Leisure Centre in Deal from April 1 as the lease for the current operator Your Leisure was due to end.

It was met with backlash from residents who regularly use the site, with more than 1,100 people signing a petition against the move.

The council then agreed to “review all options” when the decision was “called in” by the authority’s Conservative group.

And following a special cabinet meeting last night, DDC voted through a new option to appoint Your Leisure as the interim operator of the sports hall and tennis centre at the site for the next 12 months.

Its pool and gym will still close ahead of a £20 million renovation project, but it means sports groups that rely on the other spaces can continue as normal.

Kelly Siadatan, head coach at East Kent Acro Gymnastics Club, feared the club, which has been based at Tides for more than 20 years, would have been made homeless if the sports hall closed.

But she is now relieved to know her young gymnasts can continue training.

She said: “It's fantastic news. We've got a competition in April, but we don't have to worry about where we're going to be.

“It also means our equipment is safe and our club is safe so I'm absolutely over the moon.

“It's just like a weight off my shoulders now. The club and the parents can relax and the gymnasts can settle down because we haven't got that looming in the background.

“It shows that if you can club together you can get through things.

“We were just one of several clubs that were going to be affected but the voices of all of us together have helped them make the decision.”

Peter Tullo, chairman of Walmer Lawn and Tennis Croquet Club, which also uses the space at Tides, says the decision to keep it open is very “heartening news”.

He added: “It’s good the council has taken on board what various groups were saying and we look forward to things continuing as they are.

“I'm very pleased with the result.”

Major plans to upgrade Tides with a six-lane pool, gym and toddler splash pad were voted through by DDC’s cabinet at a meeting on January 13.

At that meeting, it was agreed that while the project progresses the swimming pool and gym would close in April when Your Leisure’s existing lease ends.

The decision was also made to close the tennis centre and sports hall for nine months while a new management contract was tendered.

But the u-turn was made possible when two separate operators came forward with proposals to keep facilities open in the interim.

Council bosses say this then led to “renewed negotiations” and a “revised and more competitive expression of interest from Your Leisure”.

The company says it will be offering a programme of continued activities supporting members, clubs, and group exercise classes alongside a continued alternative gym offering.

Last night, it was also agreed to start a competitive tendering process for a new operator for the centre to begin long-term operations from April 1, 2026 for dryside facilities, and summer 2027 for full opening.

“We look forward to continuing to work with them going forward…”

Demolition work is due to begin as soon as possible for a summer 2027 opening of the new leisure centre.

Leader of DDC, Cllr Kevin Mills (Lab), said: “We are delighted to have reached a decision which will allow the indoor tennis centre and sports hall to remain open.

“We know how important these facilities are to our local communities and we have worked hard to find a solution.

“We have never stopped working to find a provider for the interim period to maintain services for the public, with Your Leisure now agreed as an interim operator following rigorous contract negotiations. We look forward to continuing to work with them going forward.

“Decisions we have made during this process have not been taken lightly but were the correct decisions based on the options available to us at that time.

“We have tackled financial challenges head on and tonight have accepted an offer that benefits our residents – the taxpayer - and the current users of Tides.

“In November 2022 the council was told this project was undeliverable yet we’re now delivering this much-needed and overdue facility for the community.”

Warren Reeves, managing director of Your Leisure, said: “We are delighted to be working with DDC and to continue our working relationship for another year to deliver these valuable services to the community.”