A long-standing member of a leisure centre hit out at the facility’s proposal to increase the areas where it can sell alcohol.

Tony Sweeney claimed David Lloyd in Ringwood had tried to play down the scale of their plans.

The leisure centre’s application to vary its premises licence went before members of a New Forest District Council licensing sub-committee.

Councillors were told the plans before them only related to extending the existing area covered for alcohol sales to include additional areas of the clubroom and outdoor terrace.

The application comes at a time when sections of the centre’s membership are unhappy with the loss of racquet sports areas at the centre.

Mr Sweeney, a David Lloyd member for more than 20 years, told the licensing sub-committee he was an active badminton, padel and pickleball player, adding that he is the current European over 65 pickleball champion.

“All our facilities are being removed to be replaced by an activities centre, which is a sub-standard facility for both badminton and pickleball,” Mr Sweeney said.

“It is important that is mentioned, I think.”

Mr Sweeney, a qualified town planner, repeatedly disputed the area covered in the licence variation application. He said some aspects appeared retrospective.

The sub-committee was told the hearing, which took place on Tuesday, May 20, was only dealing with the sections highlighted in plans relating to the clubroom and outdoor terrace.

The objector said the description of the proposal had been “cloudy”, with detailed plans only made available eight days before the hearing.

“I would also argue that David Lloyd have tried to almost de minimis this application by restricting it to areas and in the description constant referrals to minimal,” Mr Sweeney said.

“It is not and that description in itself is wrong and should have been more accurately posted on notices.”

He argued that the proposals had not been publicised adequately and called for the hearing to be adjourned and the application be resubmitted.

Council licensing manager Christa Ferguson said a public notice was placed in a local newspaper, and printed notices were put up at the site, which is not a requirement for licensing applications.

Representing the leisure centre, Patrick Robson, of John Gaunt and Partners, said no objections had been raised by any of the responsible authorities, including police and environmental health.

Mr Robson said: “There is a scheme of works that will be taken forward this year. Changes to both the licensed and unlicensed areas.

“As you will appreciate, you cannot rule and have no remit in terms of the unlicensed areas of the club.”

There were 34 responses received during a public consultation on the application, but 21 of these were found to not relate to licensing matters, a council officer’s report said.

Many responses raised the matter of the reduction in racquet sports provision but this was not part of the proposal before the sub-committee, Mr Robson said.

He added: “I have heard a lot of challenging of the procedure and the publicity but I haven’t heard much put forward as evidence about an adverse impact on the licensing objectives and I suggest no such evidence would exist with what is proposed.”

The sub-committee said it would aim to send its decision on the licence variation application to interested parties within five working days of the hearing.