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A “baffling” decision to shut a popular leisure centre for nine months ahead of a multimillion-pound renovation project is set to be reviewed following huge public backlash.
It was announced on Monday that Tides in Deal would close completely on April 1 as the lease for the current operator is due to end.
This closure would see the swimming pool, and adjoining tennis courts and sports hall, all shut until January 2026 when a new operator is due to take over.
Come January, only the tennis courts and sports hall would reopen, as work would then continue on a £20 million refurbishment scheme of the swimming pool and gym.
This is then expected to open in summer 2027.
The move was approved on Monday, at Labour-led Dover District Council’s (DDC) cabinet meeting.
But opponents argue shutting the whole site for nine months is unnecessary and will cause "significant disruption" for those who use other facilities at the centre.
More than 800 people have signed a petition urging a rethink and Conservative members at DDC have ‘called in’ the decision.
It means the move will now be reviewed by the authority's overview and scrutiny committee.
A public meeting will also take place on January 27 so those impacted can voice their concerns.
In a statement, leader of the Conservative group, Cllr Trevor Bartlett, said: “This closure is a short-sighted decision that risks harming community groups, local clubs, and hardworking staff.
“By halting the decision through the call-in process, we are working to ensure residents’ voices are heard and that Labour reconsiders this baffling plan.
“We welcome the opportunity for local groups to speak at the public meeting, and we will continue to stand up for our community and fight for better outcomes.”
The ‘call-in’ – a process that allows local council members to request a decision made by the cabinet be reviewed – was led by Cllr Oliver Richardson, mayor of Deal, deputy leader of the Conservative group Cllr Chris Vinson and Sholden representative Cllr Nick Kenton.
Cllr Kevin Mills, Labour leader of DDC, said: “The ‘call-in’ is for the closure for nine months not the provision of a new facility.
“The constitution quite rightly allows for ‘call-in’ and all parties have agreed the constitution so we support the ability to call in decisions and trust this will not delay the provision of a new centre in Deal which is much overdue and needed.”
Under the overhaul, a new six-lane pool, toddler splash zone, and bigger gym will be created.
Controversially, however, the complex’s current slides will not be replaced, with a council officer, at Monday’s cabinet meeting, saying “disappointment” with this was a “key theme” in the public consultation, which had 1,000 responses.
The site will be shut for nine months while a new leisure centre management contract is being tendered, with Your Leisure’s current lease expiring on March 31 this year.
The current operator previously confirmed redundancies are being discussed.
The new contract will begin with a new provider in January 2026, at which point the sports hall and tennis centre will reopen while development work continues on the new pool and gym.
It is then hoped the new and improved pool and gym – including a cafe and fitness studios – will reopen in summer 2027.
Plans to flatten and rebuild Tides, originally built in the 1980s, first emerged in 2018 due to the current facility showing signs of ageing but were put on hold by the Covid-19 pandemic.
In 2022 the wheels were put back in motion. The scheme will cost £20.4 million in total.
At Monday’s meeting, Labour cabinet members praised the plans, with deputy leader Cllr Jamie Pout (Lab) stressing: “People do want lane swimming – I think a lot of people are saying that at the Dover leisure centre, they struggle to get in there particularly some of the schools and clubs.”
The sea in Deal is also out of bounds for swimmers right now, as the water quality has been tested and rated as “poor.” As such, no-swim warnings have been erected near the coastline.