DRAINS filled with hair, corroding pipes and walls with tiles missing are just some of the sights which have recently greeted swimmers at a Clevedon facility.

Coupled with a stale, damp smell, the condition of the changing rooms for the pool at Strode Leisure Centre has come under fire once again.

Following complaints from numerous pool users, as well as those who have stopped using it due to the state of the changing rooms, Clevedon Town Council is demanding improvements be made.

The issue was discussed at a recent council committee meeting, when Cllr Jane Geldart handed out photos of the changing rooms.

The Strode Way centre is run by DC Leisure through a contract with North Somerset Council. The town council plans to write to Graham Turner, chief executive officer, and David Turner, director of development and environment, at the district council to demand more is done to keep the centre fit for purpose.

Cllr Geldart said: “There is no way the changing rooms are cleaned every hour and there are pipes corroding.

“We need a formal review of DC Leisure’s cleaning processes.

“This situation has been ongoing for months. In fact, years.

“I know a lot of people who use the pool and they regularly comment to me about the state of the changing rooms.

“I personally don’t go there with my family now because of the filth and mess.”

Cllr Carl Francis-Pester said: “Clevedon funded part of that centre. That is why we have a vested interest in making sure it is managed.”

Cllr David Shopland added: “If they are not prepared to keep that fit for the public then we will have our money back.”

A North Somerset Council spokesman said: “There is a cleaning regime for the changing rooms and what we are encouraging staff to do is where a cleanliness issue is raised by a customer for them to show staff the areas that are not clean so it can be dealt with immediately.

“We know the changing rooms are over 15 years old and could do with a makeover but the cost of refurbishing is about �350,000 and we don’t have the money to do that.”