LEISURE centre chiefs are considering a range of expansion plans that could see the conversion of nearby stone barns.

Roefield Leisure Centre, Edisford Road, Clitheroe, is in the midst of a £1.1million makeover aimed at revamping the main building and the site’s mini-gym.

And centre manager Tony Rodia confirmed that the conversion of an existing stone barn on the site was one of the options being looked at as the leisure centre continues to grow.

He said: “These plans are part of the original Lottery deal and we are looking at all the alternative options. There are no definite plans at the moment, but we are considering numerous options.”

Back in April, the centre was handed a £195,000 grant from Sport England and a further £125,000 from the North West Development Agency as part of the £1.1m funding package.

Stage one of the renovation was to provide a new fitness suite fitted with 46 new fitness machines. The centre’s changing rooms and its aerobic rooms will also be expanded.

The expansion of the mini-gym will allow the leisure centre, which is run by not-for-profit organisation Ribble Valley Sport and Recreation, to provide more services for teenagers who previously had only limited access.

The mini-gym will be for the use of teenagers and the over 50s specifically. The aim is to provide a space that can cater for the groups of teenagers that have traditionally used the Saturday evening Time Out activity sessions.

At the time of the initial grant, Mr Rodia said the overhaul of facilities would allow the leisure centre to meet Government objectives to drive down crime and disorder by providing a place that youngsters can use.