ALTON’S new sports centre is on schedule to open its doors in January.

Work to replace the existing 45-year-old sports centre began last year, with a £20million budget. Following completion, the old building will be demolished to pave the way for a new car park.

The scheme proved controversial for some residents who have raised concerns about sports provision and a perceived lack of public consultation.

But provider Everyone Active insists the facility will offer a modern replacement that is popular and profitable.

In January 2017 East Hampshire District Council announced plans to “revitalise” its three sports and leisure centres in Alton, Petersfield and Bordon.

With a competitive bidding process, much of the project had been bound by commercial confidentiality until the council agreed its deal with Everyone Active.

This meant specific details about the sports on offer did not emerge until relatively late in the process.

Former Alton and District Sports Council chairman Joe Walters has said the public’s “deep feeling at the loss of sporting facilities” was ignored and the town had been “sold down the river for the sake of blatant commercialism”.

Key to the debate is a shift in how leisure centres are provided. Previous operators received an approximate annual subsidy of £300,000 from the council. However, now Everyone Active will instead pay the council a similar fee to run the centre.

Baked into this model is an inherent need for commercial viability – the new centre is both a business and a public amenity. For proponents of the scheme this is good news as it will by design only work if it offers what people want.

Chris West from Everyone Active said: “We’re delighted that Alton Sports Centre is progressing well and remains on schedule to open to the public in early 2020.”

The current centre will remain “fully operational” until the new facility is finished.