A new leisure centre will still be built in Flitwick, according to district planning bosses who have reaffirmed their commitment to the project.

Plans to build a new facility were scrapped last week after Flitwick Town Council decided it was unfair for it to be expected to pay £4 million of the £9 million costs, and provide land for the development, when Mid Beds District Council would take all the revenue.

Coun Stephen Mitchell compared Mid Beds District Council to notorious highwayman Dick Turpin, but the district council has said it is a custodian, not a plunderer, which took control of the leisure facilities in Flitwick 20 years ago when they were losing money, and turned it around.

A spokesman for the district council said it is still planning to build a new leisure facility in Flitwick, but it is not likely to be on the controversial Millennium Park site.

Anita Lewis, portfolio holder for leisure, culture and safer communities, said: "Mid Beds were surprised during the autumn when Flitwick Town Council made its latest series of demands but have tried negotiating with them.

"Originally it was to be located on the Steppingley Road site but then, without consultation they moved it to Millennium Park. Clearly they were out of step with their residents about that.

"Stephen Mitchell has a short memory – we are the custodians of the
facility, not its plunderers. It was Mid Beds who bailed out the leisure centre 20 years ago and it is we who have repaired, refurbished and expanded it since then.

"We employ staff to oversee the contract and our property and legal teams will work on the contracts and design of the new centre."

She added: "I want to say once again we are committed to creating a new leisure centre in Flitwick and the west of the district with improved facilities and will be consulting on this in due course."

Mid Beds District Council is now setting up a sub-group of its executive to review the current situation and come up with workable proposals for improving leisure in Flitwick.

Flitwick Town councillors have said they are happy to continue negotiations with the district council, but cannot accept the plans as they stand.