AS harsh cuts slice through public services, Poole leisure centres are bucking the trend with the promise of £830,000 investment.

The council-owned centres at Rossmore, Ashdown and Poole, managed by SLM, will each get a major revamp in 2011.

The Everyone Active centre at Poole, known as the Dolphin Swimming Pool, is getting £465,000 for new public changing rooms, state-of the art gym equipment and a pool boom, which can divide off the pool.

Rossmore is set to get £15,000 of new gym equipment, while Ashdown will get £347,000 for new surfaces for the tennis courts, athletics track and synthetic grass pitch, Most of the cash is coming from Poole council – including £617,000 coming from borrowing, and £111,000 from developer contributions. £380,000 was agreed in the 2006 contract between SLM and the council.

The Amateur Swimming Association is stumping up £50,000 towards the boom at the Dolphin Swimming Pool, and £49,000 from England Hockey will contribute to works at Ashdown.

David Greenwood, contracts manager for Everyone Active (SLM), said: “We are delighted to be able to announce such comprehensive investment plans.

“The three leisure facilities in the area will undergo all the alterations during 2011 and we will then be able to offer the local community first class fitness facilities on their doorstep.”

Cllr Neil Sorton, cabinet member for leisure at Borough of Poole, said: “Keeping local people fit and healthy and enabling them to access good quality community facilities remains a key objective for the council.

“We have worked closely over recent years with private partners and sports governing bodies to draw in external investment, and we are pleased to be able to continue to improve our leisure facilities in Poole.”