USERS of Salisbury's Five Rivers leisure centre should find it cleaner and problems should be resolved quicker, after Salisbury district council takes it over tomorrow.

Bosses are promising the swimming pool, gym and sports halls will be better run and customers will see improvement immediately.

The hand-over marks the end of an agreement with Leisure Connection, which has run sports facilities in the city for more than ten years.

The council hopes sports and leisure services across the district will be operated by a trust that can apply for further funding to expand sporting opportunities in rural communities.

However, councillors are unlikely to make a final decision on the trust for several months and council officers have been brought in to run Five Rivers in the interim.

Detailed discussions about staffing levels, training and operating procedures are under way and, although some changes will take several months, others will be immediate.

"The first thing we are going to do is give the whole place a good clean," said new general manager Rick Weston. "We want users to notice the difference as soon as the doors open."

Other longer-term changes will involve rebranding Harpers gym, changing uniforms and encouraging more customer feedback.

Prices will be going up in May, but the council insists the increases will only be in line with annual rises.

Officers predict the leisure centre will be run within existing budgets and will not add to council tax-payers' burden.

Staffing levels are also being considered as part of the shake up. "We certainly hope to get back to a full complement of staff," said Mr Weston.

"But everyone I have spoken to is very pleased they will be working for the council." The sports centre will continue to operate as usual. The equipment, which is council-owned, will remain in place and all opening times and sports on offer will stay the same.

"We are determined to make this transition as seamless as possible," said acting head of community initiatives Robin Townsend.

"But there will be a lot of changes going on and we are asking people to bear with us.

"A lot has been achieved at Five Rivers and it is a wonderful facility.

"We should be proud. The people of Salisbury paid for it and we shall ensure they get the quality they expect and deserve."