A £9 million refurbishment is being planned for Herefordshire’s leisure centres, aimed at providing the county with first-class facilities for exercise.

Following the success of the recent £2 million facelift given to Hereford Leisure Pool, Leominster’s leisure centre and leisure pool, swimming pools at Ross-on-Wye and Ledbury and Hereford leisure centre are all in line for a significant improvements starting this summer.

Overseeing the project will be Halo’s new chief executive Scott Rolfe, the company’s long time director of operations, who takes over from Jon Argent at the end of the month.

On the revamp, Mr Argent said: “In some cases customers can describe the service being delivered in centres as ‘tired’.

“We have seen at Hereford leisure pool the massive impact investment in the facilities makes in encouraging more people to get more active, more often.

“It attracts and keeps members and grows overall participation and income.”

Plans for the work will be finalised by the end of the month, but planning permission has already been submitted for all four centres – including provision for a spa at Leominster leisure pool.

The aim is bring Halo’s facilities up to date in an increasingly competitive market – two new gyms have opened in Hereford alone in the past six months.

The £9 million investment will have to be approved by Full Council in February, but it will come from a capital scheme paid back by Halo through rent.