Demolition of pool building could begin in summer

The demolition of part of a leisure centre in Kent will be considered in the coming weeks as plans for its replacement gather pace.

Last July a £19m revamp of Tides Leisure Centre in Deal was approved by Dover District Council (DDC).

The swimming pool, gym, indoor tennis centre and sports hall were all initially slated for temporary closure, however an interim operator has since been appointed to keep the tennis centre and sports hall open.

DDC's cabinet is now set to consider a recommendation to demolish the pool building, which has been closed since 16 March.

If the cabinet approves this recommendation on 12 May, demolition works for the pool and the adjacent former nursery building would start in the summer.

The works are expected to cost up to £600,000.

A full planning application for the new Deal Leisure Centre is expected in the next month.

The new facility, which DDC hopes to open in the summer of 2027, is set to have a six-lane pool, gym, inflatable sessions, and a toddler splash pad.

Kevin Mills, DDC's leader, said: "We are delighted to continue to move forward with this major investment and to be considering this demolition.

"It has been a long journey, and we are thrilled to be so close to work beginning on the new leisure centre."

A competitive tendering process to find an operator to begin from April 2026 for "dryside facilities", and from the summer of 2027 for the full operation, remains ongoing.

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