KENNET councillors are to be asked next Tuesday to approve expenditure of £1.8 million to expand Devizes Leisure Centre because of the growing population and the rising demand for fitness facilities.

However, the refurbishment, which has been on the cards for several years, will only cover local needs up to 2011, after which facilities at the 14-year-old centre will have to be reviewed again.

The changes proposed this year are to comply with health and safety regulations and new legislation on disabled access, as well as to provide better facilities at the centre which has seen demand rising steeply.

A report to councillors says areas in particular need of improvement are the swimming pool changing rooms and the staff office and rest accommodation which were criticised in a recent internal audit.

It also says because of the number of young families using the centre, crche facilities are essential.

It was originally envisaged the squash courts would be closed to provide a permanent crche area, but this would have left Devizes with no courts. One court will now be retained which will double up as the crche area.

As the gym hall is used exclusively during the day by Devizes School a new activity room is being planned where keep-fit, aerobics and other classes can be held. It will mean that activities for the over-50s and young mums can be reintroduced. The 50+ club exercise classes and soft play sessions for toddlers had to be discontinued in 2003 because of lack of space.

The fitness suite, which is expected to cater for 50,000 visits this year, is to be doubled in size.

The plans also include changing accommodation for users of the artificial turf pitch and a preparation area for the caf.

Andrew Smith, Kennet's director of leisure services, said: "Devizes Leisure Centre is now ill-equipped to provide a wide range of activities that is needed to meet changing customer and social demands that encourage more active lifestyles.

"The current housing allocations being built in Devizes will add pressure to already overcrowded facilities.

"The improvements to Devizes Leisure Centre will help alleviate these pressures and provide more participation opportunities for a wide age range."

Some £1.5 million has already been set aside in the council's 2004/05 budgets for the work.

Mr Smith and his staff are asking for another £371,000 to be committed from the council reserves to cover the anticipated cost of the planned work.