Pembrokeshire County Council’s cabinet member for culture, sport and leisure has offered his apologies to users of Tenby Leisure Centre, after it was revealed that a project to refurbish the facility is running nine months behind schedule.

The £1.4m improvement scheme to the Leisure Centre, situated on Marsh Road, has also run more than £300,000 over budget, a report to the council’s cabinet meeting on Monday explained.

The aims of the project were to provide a new fitness suite to modern standards; substantially improve the reception and café area; and carry out other maintenance items covering the wider facility, separate to the main enhancement scheme.

The first phase works started on site on September 1, 2014, with the estimated completion date to be June 1, 2015, whilst phase two, which included the refurbishment of the former fitness suite into a community room, was scheduled to be completed on August 3, of last year.

Cabinet member for culture, sport and leisure, Clr. Elwyn Morse, stated at the meeting on Monday that a number of issues had led to a delay in the project being completed, with an estimated finish date for phase one now to be next month, with phase two due to be completed nine weeks later.

Tenby county councillors Michael Williams and Mike Evans have both raised significant levels of concern about the execution of the extension and refurbishment scheme, and some of the ancillary works,

Clr. Morse told the meeting that there had been unforeseen matters with soft ground foundations, uneven floor levels, and gutter corrosion in the pool hall, which had seen increased design and management costs associated with working in an operational leisure centre.

“Unlike most rebuilds, Tenby Leisure Centre has remained open to the public throughout the enhancement, which has led to further costs being incurred,” he said, recognising that there had been significant disruption to the centre users and staff.

“An amalgamation of a unique set of unpredicted difficulties, one after another, has led to further design and administration costs.

“I extend apologies to users of the centre for the delay, and when it does open, I’m sure the enhancement will be something to be proud of, and hold the leisure service in good light,” continued Clr. Morse, stating that a further report would be brought back to the cabinet once the scheme was completed, including feedback on “lessons learnt.”

Clr. Rob Lewis also told members that he was “disappointed” that the project had overrun and overspent.

“In 2001/02, a review of leisure services started, and this county has been held as one of the leading lights in leisure facilities in Wales, so it’s a shame for one reason or another that this last project has been the one that has seemed to pick up all the issues,” he said.

“Once it is completed, it will be up to the standards of others across the county that have benefited from investment,” added Clr. Lewis.