IT is an ambitious vision which could revolutionise an ageing Southampton landmark.

But plans to redevelop Leisure World have been struck a blow after a key tenant raised concerns.

Managers at Grosvenor Casinos say they hold all the cards on the site – and have warned Southampton council boss Simon Letts that he will have to work with them better to deliver his scheme.

The company says it has had no discussions with Southampton City Council about a proposed new conference centre and entertainment venue, despite having the right to run the site until 2042.

It has stoked the political row over Cllr Letts’ early announcement of the plans, with Conservative group leader Jeremy Moulton accusing his Labour rival of “insulting” leaseholders.

Cllr Letts rejected the claim and said he was in talks with the main tenant, UBS.

As previously reported, the scheme would be designed to attract top bands, businesses and political parties to the city.

Mark Jones, Grosvenor Casinos’ managing director, said: “It’s a very unusual situation when a leader of the council stands outside a building with hundreds of people who work there, saying he’d like to see the site demolished when the tenants there have the right to stay there for a number of years to come.

“We’re in control of whether it’s redeveloped or not as sitting tenants. We’d like to redevelop it but we run casinos, so you can imagine we’d like to see a casino at the heart of it.”

Cllr Letts said he had spoken with UBS, which leases the land from the council and sub-lets to Grosvenor, and “assumed” the companies had been in touch. He has now offered to meet Mr Jones.

He said: “We’re working with UBS for a development to ensure those jobs will stay in the Leisure World area.”

Cllr Moulton has already accused the Labour leader of playing his hand early to garner publicity ahead of Thursday’s crunch election, which could see the Tories reclaim control.

The Tory group leader added on Friday (Apr 29): “If you’re going to start putting things in the public domain, it’s professional to speak to people beforehand and agree things. [Cllr Letts has] put it out there for a bit of publicity because you’re close to an election.

“It’s unprofessional, it’s insulting and I imagine it’s also quite worrying for their staff. That’s not the way for a leader to behave.”

Defending his decision to announce the idea publicly before speaking to Grosvenor, Cllr Letts said Southampton had to act quickly to attract investment from the Solent combined authority, which could release millions of pounds for infrastructure.

Cllr Letts said: “If you’ve got your ideas, you have to have got them ready to go or the risk is that the combined authority income ends up being spent in Portsmouth rather than Southampton, which I’m sure even Cllr Moulton wouldn’t want to see.”

Cllr Letts said he would like to keep a casino on site if it was viable.