VILLAGERS have joined forces in a bid to take over the running of a Derbyshire leisure centre.

The Bill Shone Leisure Centre in Melbourne is owned by South Derbyshire District Council but is leased to the parish council.

A team of five people have now formed Melbourne Community Centre Ltd and have approached the parish council in the hope of taking over the lease and improving the building.

More than 100 people attended a recent meeting to hear the group outline its plans for the future of the centre, in High Street.

Group member Phil Dobby said: "While we were drawing up the plan, we asked residents what they did during their leisure time.

"By far and away the most popular response was all kinds of leisure activities, ranging from karate lessons to art workshops.

"A lot of the current activities are run from the leisure centre, which is essentially a community centre, but, at the moment, the building is a little un-loved and there are lots of improvements that could be made."

Mr Dobby said that the building was in need of sound-proofing and insulation, as some groups had stopped renting it because of noise problems.

He added: "The building hasn't changed in the 33 years that it has been run by the parish council. It is well used but could be better used and we want to see that happen."

South Derbyshire District Council is currently looking at whether the leisure centre is adequate or if the village needs new facilities. It has set up a project group made up of councillors, Melbourne Sporting Partnership and Melbourne Performing Arts.

The group has already appointed advisers to carry out a feasibility study of potential sites for leisure and performing arts. They are due to report back at the end of the month.

Parish councillor Nigel Collyer, chairman of the leisure centre committee, said the work being carried out by the district council's project group could impact on the long-term future of the centre.

But he said something still needed to be done in the short-term to improve it.

"I think everyone agrees that something needs to be done to improve leisure facilities in Melbourne but it is just a case of how," he said. "While the district council is considering what can be done, the parish council will consider the approach made by the group of villagers who want to take over the running of the centre."

John Harrison, South Derbyshire district councillor for Melbourne, said the group of villagers were more than capable of running the centre.

He said: "They are confident that they can improve the quality of the facility, while giving assurances that existing users will be allowed to continue. I wish them well with the project."