DARWEN Leisure Centre is a wonderful complex. It has a vast sports hall with a multitude of uses, badminton, football, netball, to mention but a few, tiered seating which can be extended from the wall, a second large practice hall and, in between, a room for young children and another playroom for even younger children.

There are two squash courts and a gym fully equipped with treadmills, weight-lifting equipment etc.

Then there is the Tower room with a bar area used for tea dances, receptions etc. It is also used as a creche. There is a sauna area with two saunas, a steam room, jacuzzi and lounge. It has a cafe and a meeting room, a reception area and offices. Oh, I nearly forgot. It also has a swimming pool and a small pool for juniors.

All of this is to be demolished. Why? Because there is a leak in the swimming pool. Why should it take £9million and two years loss of all these facilities to repair a leak? Get real!

We are told facilities to be built to replace it will be "the best for miles." But already we are told that the sports hall will be elsewhere. Thus, it will no longer be a leisure centre.

Perhaps this will mean some of the remaining facilities will be less well attended - people often use more than one when they visit. Perhaps these will prove unviable and end up closed.

Maybe the people of Darwen don't want simply a pool to attract people from all over Lancashire. Perhaps they might prefer to retain a comprehensive facility which they can use comfortably without it being overcrowded.

Already the centre is deteriorating. The jacuzzi is no longer in use. It needs repairs but is not worth it as it is to be demolished. Toys need replacing so the playroom has been closed. The cafe is quite often closed because staff have moved elsewhere. Other work is not being carried out.

Why are councillors so determined to push ahead with this project?

My guess is because there are no brownie points for repairing and refurbishing things. But a completely new facility will be an occasion for celebration.

Councillors will strut their stuff and feel that they have justified their existencies. The council will quote it as further evidence Blackburn with Darwen is best in the land.

People might like to know more about where the money is coming from for all this. they can be quite certain that they will be paying for it one way or another.

ALEC LEAVER, Stansfeld Street, Blackburn.