A LEISURE boss has unveiled his plan to give a vandalised community centre in Southampton a “new lease of life”.

Fitness classes, children’s birthdays and coffee mornings could all be introduced to a revamped Coxford Community Centre.

That’s according to Dan Lally, general manager of charity-run Oaklands Community Pool, who is set to bring the run-down facility under his wing.

The 28-year-old hopes to link the centre to the Oaklands pool portfolio and use it to provide a series of dry-side activities.

Mr Lally also aims to create up to six jobs at the revamped facility, which he plans to call ‘The Oakland Hub’.

Speaking about his ambitions for the site, which has been the victim of vandalism in recent months, he said: “I think it’s going to be great – it will give the centre a new lease of life.

“It was a community centre before and I’m hopeful we can make it a place where people can go to feel a part of the community.

“Obviously for us it will be amazing to be able to offer extra services to the community, which the charity’s values are all about.”

Once opened, Mr Lally hopes to use the centre to provide a wide range of activities, including yoga, Zumba and Pilates classes and regular coffee mornings for pensioners .

He also plans to make use of the caged play area at the back of the facility, which will also come under the charity’s control, to host football-themed birthday parties.

Civic chiefs initially announced in August that Oaklands Community Pool had agreed to take on the centre.

It came on the same day that Coxford councillor Don Thomas called for the city council to secure the facility, which he said had become a “magnet for vandals”.

The Putting People First member raised concerns after hoodlums smashed windows, broke roof tiles and trashed the inside of the building.

The council has since fixed the external damage to the centre, replacing the broken roofing and windows in preparation for the Oaklands team to move in.

Mr Lally says the charity still has yet to sign the paperwork to take on the centre. However, he added that the charity was set to meet the council later this month and that he hoped to have the new centre up and running by January 2018.

That month will mark the third anniversary of Oaklands pool reopening as a community asset – saving it from permanent closure. Since then, the charity has grown in size and now employs 20 staff.

Mr Lally said: “I think this move shows we are growing. We want to offer more than we are now and I hope the centre will be a great asset.”