THE Dengie 100 Sports Centre will undergo refurbishment which will see its old changing rooms turned into a gym extension, with Burnham Rugby Club operating the bar and kitchen.

The plans for the sports centre in Millfields, Burnham-on-Crouch, were approved by the Strategy and Resources Committee of Maldon District Council (MDC) last night (Thursday, 15 July).

The project will cost the council £30,000, which will be used to fund alterations to and refurbishment of the old changing rooms into a gym extension. In return, it is hoped that the scheme will save MDC - which owns the sports centre - around £10,000 each month, as well as providing extra gym facilities and events for locals.

The project's start and completion date is yet to be confirmed.

MDC's report to councillors said: "Burnham Rugby Club [...] are keen to take over the operation of the bar and kitchen as part of a project that they are proposing and to also build new changing rooms, storage etc. on part of the car park.

"They are not looking for any funding for this and it seems that all parties and council members are keen to see this happen.

"The building of the extension for the new changing rooms will 'free up' the old changing rooms and allow for their alteration and refurbishment to additional gym space which would fall to Places Leisure to manage."

MDC said that the process will enable Places Leisure to increase gym membership numbers.

It added: "As a consequence of this, MDC will have a reduction in their liability to pay a management fee to Places Leisure as they do currently. This may go down to a break even point or maybe beyond, thus saving MDC approx. £10k per month."

Burnham Rugby Club will be able to hold fundraising and community events at the centre.

The proposal was approved unanimously - this was seconded by Councillor Mark Durham.