THIS has put years on a Peter Panner.

The existing sports hall is sensibly on the ground floor with the following benefits: Access from outside at ground level is on three sides; there is an adjacent large storage area; easy transfer of the injured to an ambulance; easy evacuation in case of fire; a café on the same level; there are handy toilets and no doubt TVBC earmark the hall, with such good access, as a refuge centre in the event of a local disaster.

None of these benefits is available with the proposed new centre.

The solution is to refurbish the existing hall with studios above, café and children’s play area and upgrade the proposed new swimming pool to accept divers.

I attended an event at the centre where hundreds of us elderly and disabled people from all over Hampshire took part in a Guinness Book of Records challenge. Then we were all given tea and cakes from the café. Next time it will have to be Basingstoke.

Test Valley should have ensured that the contractor provides alternative facilities for such clubs as the Peter Pan Club to continue during the two-year closure. I cannot over emphasise the importance of the club to the quality of life it brings to people such as myself.

We do not need a fancy show piece. We want somewhere to enable us to keep fit and enjoy the company of friends.

Stan Full, Cedar Walk, Andover