URGENT discussions are being held between officials from Kennet District Council and Wiltshire County Council in an attempt to get the £3m refurbishment of Devizes Leisure Centre back on track.

A National Lottery application for £1.5m will be returned to Kennet this month after the failure by the county council to endorse it.

The county council is the landowner but the authority has decided to withdraw its interest in jointly provided leisure centres such as Devizes.

The matter was discussed by councillors on Kennet's community leisure development sub-committee on Thursday October 12 and they agreed negotiations should take place with the county council to try to resolve the situation.

If an agreement can be reached with the county council then Kennet can make another application for Lottery funding but it will delay the process by at least three months.

Councillors were told by Kennet's leisure services manager Andrew Smith that one option would be for Kennet to take on the freehold of the leisure centre, in Southbroom Road, and to waive a £40,000 charge to the county for schools to use the centre.

However, Mr Smith said the £40,000 charge was significant income and agreeing to set it aside would undermine the council's agreement with the county and Devizes Town Council.

A letter from Keith Robinson, chief executive of the county council, said the county was anxious to ensure the Lottery bid was successful. Kennet is confident of securing the Lottery cash, which would arrive in two stages, if it gets the support needed from the county.

Coun Chris Humphries, who is also a county councillor, said: "There has been a misunderstanding and breakdown in communication between the county council and the district council but I'm not going to be critical of officers.

"I have been assured by Peter Chalke (leader of the county council) and Mr Robinson that all will be done to reach a satisfactory conclusion. There should be further negotiations towards a successful conclusion."

Of the remaining £1.5m cost, Kennet has put aside £900,000 towards the project. The council hopes to raise the rest with donations from organisations such as the Lawn Tennis Association.