PROPOSALS to hand over the management of council-owned health and leisure centres across the New Forest has been labelled as "the district equivalent of Brexit" by an opposition member.

Discussions are taking place to hand over the five centres currently managed by New Forest District Council to a commercial operator.

The council is looking at ways of cutting costs and is striving to find a cheaper way of running the centres.

One of the main options under discussion would involve an outside organisation managing the buildings at Applemore, Lymington, New Milton, Ringwood and Totton.

The council would retain ownership but the new operator would be in charge of staff and income as well as many of the bills.

Fears have mounted that a commercial operator would try to make the centres more viable by cutting staff and hiking prices.

Cllr David Harrison, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, said the Tory-run authority had been examining the future of leisure centres for two years without making significant progress.

He added: “It’s the district equivalent of Brexit.

“All the time they keep reviewing the situation it makes staff and volunteers anxious about the future of the centres and jobs.”

But Cllr James Binns, cabinet member for leisure, said: “Our focus throughout this project is to secure the future of our excellent leisure centres.

“Having centres that continue to be fit for purpose is what is driving our work, as we know the valuable contribution they make to the wellbeing of our customers.

“We are open-minded about what that approach may look like.”