PROPERTY chiefs at Burnley Council have been ordered to keep a closer eye on plans for a £7million health and leisure centre after the project spiralled £100,000 over budget.

Developers, the Eric Wright Group, have been asked by council bosses to look at the scheme, to be built on land between the River Brun and Bank Parade, to try and reduce costs by the £100,000.

The council's director of community and leisure services, Mick Cartledge says in a report: "The costs are slightly higher than the original affordability study and as a result we have requested further options from the Eric Wright group to reduce costs by approximately £100,000.

"There is also a need to now closely scrutinise the specification and costings and this work will be undertaken by the council's property consultancy unit."

The result of the reviewed costs will be made public at the end of the month.

Bulldozers will move on to Burnley's St Peter's car park next month to start work after councillors granted permission for the multi-storey car park to be razed to the ground, making way for the development which will replace the ageing Thompson centre.

The new centre will incorporate state- of-the-art health and leisure facilities in the heart of the town centre.

Developers have said the leisure aspect which will feature a 25 metre, six-lane pool, a learner pool, spectator area, fitness suite, two dance and aerobic studios, health suite including sauna, steam room and spa pool, four court sports hall, practice hall, two squash courts, changing rooms, community cafe and cyber cafe, and a creche, will be complete by December 2005.

This is to ensure £1 million of funding from Sport England is not lost.

GP surgeries, an out-of-hours medical centre, dental surgery and pharmacy are earmarked for the health side, to be completed by June 2006.

Burnley Business Centre will also be demolished. The site of the Thompson Centre could also be sold off, although not until the new facility is up and running.