The district council has faced calls to delay plans for a new leisure centre in Amersham amid concerns over the cost of the development.

Chiltern District Council’s (CDC) cabinet met yesterday (June 26) to discuss plans, including spending up to £500,000 on creating a planning application for the new leisure centre, which would replace Chiltern Pools.

The current centre is more than 50 years old, and is predicted to be uneconomical by 2022.

If given the green light the new leisure centre would feature a 25-metre swimming pool, a four badminton court sports hall, two squash courts as well as a library, café, spa, gym and community centre.

However Councillor Don Phillips, who does not sit on the cabinet, warned that CDC “needs to be a little cautious” as it pushes forwards with the development – which is expected to cost £30.4 million.

The Conservative councillor for Little Chalfont raised concerns that the “high cost” elements of the development, such as the sports hall, climbing walls and squash courts would produce little or no profit.

He also fears the new centre would drain money and membership from the leisure centres in Chesham and Chalfont St Peter.

Cllr Phillips said: “We have to be a little cautious. We have always been very pleased to be debt free here, and we no longer are because we have £10.8 million hanging around our neck because of the multi-storey car park, and we are talking another £30.4 million.

“Against this background, it behoves us to be incredibly careful as to what we enter in to on a 40-year deal.

“This proposal here today is about getting your approval to go forward with the planning application, and I really do believe there is a degree of undue haste here.

“If a planning application is put together, and for whatever reason it fails, the costs have been incurred, it could be quite substantial if the costs or design has to change.”

Liberal Democrat, Peter Jones, added the predicted income generated and number of people who will visit the new centre is “in excess of what is currently being achieved”.

However deputy leader, Mike Stannard, said he is “confident” the new leisure centre will generate income for the cash-strapped council.

He said: “I am confident and the business case suggests this is true, that this facility will actually deliver income for this council, which is something that is going to be very important.

“We are facing challenging times financially, with the negative revenue support grant we are going to be facing going forward, we are going to be having to look at ways we can develop income streams to the council, and health and fitness is one of those areas that is not going to go out of style.”

To make room for the development Amersham Town Council (ATC) and CDC have agreed to swap land.

In return for building on a small part of the King George V playing field, which is owned by the town council, the district council would give The Green in Woodside Close to ATC, in order to protect the land as open space.

Councillors agreed to push forward with the leisure centre plans, which came to light in 2015.

To view the council report visit https://isa.chiltern.gov.uk/democracy/documents/s41891/Cabinet%20Report%20-%20Chiltern%20Pools%20and%20redevelopment%20of%20the%20adjacent%20Community%20Facilities.pdf