Plans to re-open parts of the Leiston Leisure Centre, including the pool, have been pushed back by three months.

Phase one of the £3.5 million refurbishment, which included the swimming pool, reception area, soft play area and thermal suite and village changing rooms, was due to re-open this month.

Suffolk Coastal District Council say that due to tile lifting in the pool these areas will not be re-opened until June.

Despite the setback for the first phase the council says that overall refurbishment plan is on track and will see the centre re-open fully in the summer as planned.

TJ Haworth-Culf, Suffolk Coastal Cabinet Member with responsibility for Customers, Communities and Leisure, said: “The reopening of phase one has had to be put back as some of the tiles in the swimming pool have lifted over the last few weeks.

“We need to rectify this and re-tile the whole surround of the swimming pool to avoid any issues in the future.

“We are working hard to ensure that the leisure centre will be fit for the future and can be enjoyed by the local community for years to come.

“However, we understand that this may cause some inconvenience and apologise for the slight delay.

“The overall refurbishment is still on schedule and phase two, which includes the sports halls, squash courts, fitness studio and dance studio, is due to reopen in July 2019.”

The facilities at the site closed in August 2018 to allow the centre to be upgraded.

A new gym, dance studios and a group cycling studio are among changes being made at the centre.

The new facilities were designed with the council’s leisure development partner, Pulse Deisng & Build and operators, Places Leisure.

Leiston is the second of three leisure centre’s being upgraded by Suffolk Coastal as part of their five year programme to improve leisure facilities in the district and encourage more people to be active.

The Deben Leisure Centre in Woodbridge opened last June after its £3.5 million upgrade with Felixstowe Leisure Centre set to follow soon.

Suffolk Coastal said that more information regarding Leiston Leisure Centre’s re-opening dates would be confirmed on its website and social media sites in due course.