AN application to improve Tavistock’s Meadowlands Leisure Centre has received support from the town council.

At its meeting last Tuesday (October 17) members of Tavistock Town Council welcomed the planning application submitted on behalf of Fusion Lifestyle to develop the swimming and leisure facilities at Meadowlands.

The planning application was received by West Devon Borough Council at the end of September to provide a gymnasium and fitness studio, together with other alterations, to allow upgrade and refurbishment of the leisure centre facilities.

Tavistock Town Council members decided to support the plans solely in its role as a statutory consultee in the planning process.

Former Tavistock Mayor councillor Mandy Ewings said: ‘Our plans committee was reassured by the proposals which support a long term approach to sport and recreation for Tavistock. The town council looks forward to working with Fusion once the necessary consents are in place.’

At the beginning of September, the Times revealed that Fusion Lifestyle, which runs Meadowlands Leisure Centre, on behalf of West Devon Borough Council, was planning to invest £8-million to improve five leisure centres across Devon — and Tavistock’s centre was to benefit.

Meadowlands could have a substantial makeover and is being called a ‘flagship’ build project.

The work is expected to start at the end of 2017 and take approximately nine months to completes — subject to planning permission.

Fusion Lifestyle is the largest independent charity operating community sports, fitness and leisure centres in the country.

At the time, Anthony Cawley, operations director, Fusion Lifestyle, said: ‘We have made a commitment to nurture these sports and leisure facilities in Devon, and this includes making a serious investment in their improvement and upkeep. Our plans for all the centres have been designed to improve the experience for our members and the public, providing them with better and bigger facilities.’

To view more on the planning application visit the West?Devon Borough Council website’s planning page and type in application number 3080/17/FUL.

Comments on this application should be received by today (October 26).

The council will discuss this application on November 22.