WINCHESTER civic chiefs are set to delay work to decide a new use for the site of the River Park Leisure Centre.

The centre is due to close when the new centre at Bar End opens early next year.

The Cabinet meets next Thursday and is considering a report on the old centre on Gordon Road, Hyde.

The report recommends spending £410,000 decommissioning the building but maintaining services to the bowls club and football and tennis facilities. Temporary toilets will be provided.

An annual budget from 2021/22 of £40,000 for CCTV hire and monitoring, building inspections, and cleaning the temporary toilets.

But any further work has been delayed. The report recommends "That work to determine options for the future use of the site is delayed until the current budget position relating to the Covid-19 emergency is finalised and the emerging development market is better understood and to bring a report back to cabinet in Q2/Q3 2021."

Suggested new uses have included cultural facilities including providing the city with a proper large music venue.