Ealing Council has arranged three consultation meetings on the redevelopment of Gurnell Leisure Centre, which has sparked a petition raising concerns about affordable housing.

The council is set to re-design the centre, in Ruislip Road East, in a potential £37m redevelopment that will see new homes built above and beside it.

Should the deal go ahead, the building will be demolished on September 16 and would remain out of use until December 2018.

Developers Willmott Dixon will contribute £25m to the project, while the council will fund remainder of the overall £37m.

Now meetings will take place on May 19, June 9 and July 14 starting at 6.30pm in Hathaway Primary School, Hathaway Gardens, Ealing , to outline plans.

'This must not be allowed to happen'

But a petition has been launched, so far signed by 1,890 people, detailing concerns about how affordable the property built on site will be.

It reads: "This contribution is welcome, but it is wrong to allow development on public land which waives the usual requirement for at least 25% of new housing to be to be affordable/social stock, while we are so desperate for social and affordable housing in the area.

"This must no be allowed to happen."

Cllr Mahfouz has argued the council is not legally bound to provide 25% of affordable housing on site, but will make efforts to provide affordable rent.

'Project will put Gurnell on the map'

The cabinet member for transport, environment and leisure, added: "At least half of the properties in the current proposals offer rent at prices ordinary working people can afford.

"Allowing a small amount of private housing development on this severely constrained site will contribute £25m towards a fantastic new, modern facility.

"Reducing the cost of redeveloping the centre means the savings made will be available for other, affordable housing developments across the borough.

"We are looking to develop a £37m state-of-the-art Olympic sized pool and leisure centre that will be the pride of Ealing.

"Given over half of our budget has been cut in recent years, it would be impossible for the council to develop this without building properties close by, as has been done in Northolt and Acton in recent years."

Cllr Mahfouz previously declared the building could no longer continue in its current condition and that Labour Ealing Council had stated in its 2014 manifesto it would be refurbished.

Why is it being redeveloped?

He claimed the leisure centre would cost around £10m just to maintain for short term use, whereas redeveloping for £37m would prolong the centre's use for more than 30 years.

But some gym users said they felt "misled" because Labour's manifesto promised to refurbish the centre, but did not outline plans to demolish it.

Due to an agreement with developers, the redevelopment will be cost neutral for the council despite them spending £1.34m to push through the deal.

Relocation

But the move also drew criticism from gym users who will have to relocate to leisure centres across west London, including Northolt and Acton.

Consultation sessions, which will be hosted by Cllr Mahfouz and council officers working on the project, are open to everyone but space is limited and will be offered on a first come first served basis.