“THIS council has a proud tradition of using the nuclear option – don’t risk it.”

That was the call from one city councillor as plans for a new leisure centre in Winchester were scrutinised at a meeting.

Liberal Democrat councillor Martin Tod told members of Winchester City Council’s (WCC) overview and scrutiny committee that a large number of councillors and members of the public had concerns over the choice to build an eight-court sports hall, rather than 12.

Cllr Tod added that if the issue was not addressed before the plans were progressed, there’s a risk that the project could be scuppered, leaving Winchester without a sports and leisure centre.

As previously reported, the Conservative-controlled council’s cabinet approved the mix of facilities for the proposed Winchester Sports and Leisure Centre, which will be based at Bar End and replace the outdated River Park Leisure Centre at Hyde in the city centre.

It will include the eight-court sports hall and a 50m swimming pool among other facilities. The 50m pool would be one of only around 20 in the whole country.

Councillors were told that the cost of the project is estimated to be £38million, up from £29m in 2015.

Winchester City Council has been asked what the reason for the increase is, but it has not yet issued a response.

The decision to build an eight-court sports came under fire again following previous criticism at a meeting of the city council’s cabinet.

Cllr Kim Gottlieb, Conservative, said: “We know that on the day it opens Bar End will struggle to accommodate many of the sports and clubs, in addition to an ever increasing number of individuals that were hoping to use it.

“These are views that are shared by the majority of councillors on the Bar End sport committee.”

Warning project leaders to take concerns seriously, Cllr Tod said: “All major projects that have gone wrong have because there was an issue bubbling underneath.

“How are you managing the risk that you don’t have 23 votes because of this issue. This council has a proud tradition of taking the nuclear option,” referring to problems which scuppered the £150m Silver Hill development and Station Approach scheme last year.

Responding to the warning, Cllr Lisa Griffiths, portfolio holder for health and wellbeing, said: “All of the facilities are an expansion for the future. All the data shows this is the right decision.”