A LEISURE centre in Sturminster Newton has been slammed for its “derelict” appearance.

Nick Cowell, chairman of the town’s table tennis club, told the Daily Echo that the maintenance of the building was affecting the ability of his members to play the game.

“We have members aged from eight years old to 96. One chap has only one eye. But everybody is affected. Eleven out of 24 bulbs in the hall aren’t working.

“It has the potential to be really good. But what’s the point in playing in a great building when you can’t see the ball because so many bulbs have gone?”

Mr Cowell took his concerns to Sturminster Newton Town Council, which contributes £10,000 a year to the upkeep of the centre.

The town council has fired off a letter to North Dorset District Council warning that it will withhold its next quarterly contribution if standards of lighting and cleanliness do not improve.

The leisure centre was built about eight years ago on land owned by the Pitt-Rivers estate and leased to North Dorset District Council. A condition of the lease states that the land must be used for a facility that benefits the entire community.

Funding from NDDC has reduced since March with the council introducing financial restrictions under its Tough Choices programme after being capped in 2005. Sturminster Newton High School, the Yewstock School for children with special needs, and the SturQuest community partnership are among the parties expected to get involved in running the leisure centre when NDDC pulls out.

A meeting of all interested parties will be held at Sturminster Newton church on November 3 at 7pm.