A Coalville community group has made public its revised plans for the redevelopment of the Hermitage Leisure Centre.

Coalville Community and Neighbours (CAN) has wanted to redevelop the building in Whitwick ever since it was announced it would be closing.

The new Whitwick & Coalville Leisure Centre opened to the public in February, leaving the Hermitage building out of use and boarded up.

Coalville CAN wanted to re-open the centre for community events and sports such as parkour and skateboarding.

But, at a recent meeting of North West Leicestershire District Council's Community Scrutiny Committee to discuss the future of the Hermitage building and recreation ground, the matter was deferred after councillors criticised an officer's report.

A date has yet to be set for a meeting to continue discussions about the former leisure centre.

There has been support from some councillors for turning the site into retirement bungalows with a recreation space available.

The site has been boaded up for almost six months. Photo: Coalville Nub News

But with the council facing maintenance costs for the building even though it is still out of use, the matter is still no nearer being resolved.

Coalville CAN says: "We are asking the Council to consider our revised option HERE.

"This includes retaining the hall and ancillary spaces for ongoing use and taking down the rest of the building whilst longer term decisions are made.

"If you support this proposal, and would like your views to be heard too, the comments need to go through the latest North West Leicestershire District Council consultation.

"These will then be taken into consideration when the consultation ends on August 15. 

"To do this, click on this link to access the Council's Consultation HERE."

The proposal from CAN says it wants to: 

• Make good the main hall and associated ancillary spaces of the existing building to create a venue for ongoing community use. (timescale to discuss) 

• Take down and make safe the rest of the building(s) 

• Transfer the use of the Hall and associated spaces under licence to CCAN for a range of community led activities including parkour 

• Consider the addition of solar panels on the roof of the retained space 

• Jointly investigate Community Asset Transfer and ownership of the whole Hermitage and Lakeside site with NWLDC with all interested community partners including, but not limited to, CCAN, existing users of the site and Whitwick Parish Council.

Coalville CAN has asked the council to approve an in-principle decision to consider this option.