ANDOVER could be set for a new multi-million pound leisure centre as part of a 30-year contract to run sporting facilities across Test Valley, we can reveal.

The Advertiser can report that Test Valley Borough Council has told bidders they must build a new leisure centre or completely refurbish the current Andover facility if they win the authority’s currently ongoing tender process.

The new facility could include a new six-lane 25-metre swimming pool, with learner pool provision, as well as a sports hall and squash courts.

A health and fitness gym, with studios, and possible space allocated for ‘community health provision’ may also be provided.

It is rumoured that the council would prefer the new centre to be built on the site of the existing facility, located on West Street.

TVBC’s cabinet met last Wednesday to select a preferred bidder for the 30-year contract, which runs until 2047.

Three bidders submitted finalised plans for the contract earlier this year.

One confirmed bidder is current provider Valley Leisure, whose 25-year contract expires in March 2017.

Places for People, who run leisure facilities for Eastleigh Borough Council, are also rumoured to be involved in the bidding process.

The name of the preferred bidder was taken before full council later this week for final approval, before the information is officially released later this month.

Meanwhile Andover Town Council recently declined the chance to submit an 11th hour bid to run the town’s leisure facilities over fears of inheriting an alleged £1.8 million pension deficit.

The authority held an extraordinary meeting last week to discuss the possibility of submitting a Community Right to Bid for Andover Leisure Centre, just days before the cabinet were due to decide their preferred bidder for the 30-year contract.

If they had voted in favour of the motion, the last gasp bid would have delayed TVBC’s current yearlong tender process by around six months, to allow ATC to put together their own plans for the leisure centre.

However the town council voted overwhelmingly against making a bid, after it was hinted that they may inherit a £1.8 million pension deficit.

At the meeting, councillors also raised fears over Andover Leisure Centre’s profitability, after suggestions were made that the facility currently makes a loss of £95,000 per year.

Cllr Steven Hardstaff said: “The deficit in the pension scheme of Valley Leisure stood at £1.3 million in 2014 and as of March 2015 it was £1.6 million.

“If we were to win the bid the staff would transfer to us.

“We would have to honour those pension arrangements those staff have and that deficit will only get bigger.

“It would take us over 30 years to plug that pension gap.”

Cllr Luigi Gregori added: “There are questions over the facility making a £95,000 a year loss at the moment and questions over the pension deficit of a reported £1.8 million.

“We would also be expected to invest a lot of money into this.

“These three things lead me to believe that it is not right for us to take that on.”

Cllr Robin Hughes, who submitted a motion against making a bid, said: “This is something that will have huge implications for us as a town council.

“I don’t believe we have the time or the expertise.

“I therefore move immediately to say that I don’t think we should be making a bid at this time.”

The meeting was originally triggered by town councillor Christopher Ecclestone, who could not attend due to urgent work commitments.

However after the meeting the councillor could not hide his frustration at his colleagues, who he labelled “idiots”.

He said: “What we have there is a group of uninformed idiots who specialise in misinformation.

“Test Valley assumed the pension debt and the town council would not have been responsible.

“If the contract had included a £1.8 million debt no one would have made a bid.

“It is not worth addressing these people, all they want to do is block proposals.”

Cllr Ecclestone said had the council won the bid they could have selected a management company to run the leisure centre on their behalf.

He added that the authority could have improved the current facility, which he described as “run down”.

Responding to the pension deficit claims, chief executive of Valley Leisure, Kevin Patterson, said: “Valley Leisure would not like to comment on any discussions/decisions of the town council.

“Valley Leisure is currently bidding for the contract to run the leisure facilities across Test Valley and the new contract will provide an exciting opportunity and platform for the long term provision of leisure facilities and services.

“I can confirm that Valley Leisure has no on-going pension liability and any operational surpluses generated are used to help promote the health and wellbeing of the community.”

Meanwhile, TVBC has refused to comment on the claims of a £1.8 million pension deficit.

However the authority’s portfolio holder for community and leisure services, councillor Tony Ward, said in a statement: “The new leisure contract provides an opportunity to deliver top class leisure facilities locally.

“We have consistently said that our ambition is to deliver a new or completely refurbished Andover Leisure Centre, and this has been a key requirement of the bid process.

“The council has invested a huge amount of time, effort and expertise in the tendering process in order to get the best possible outcome for our residents.

“An organisation of the size of Andover Town Council would simply not have the capacity to deliver facilities of the scale and type that Andover deserves.

“Against this background, it would not be helpful to speculate on the reasons for their last minute expression of interest.”