WORK on a £1 million refurbishment of Bolton's flagship leisure centre has begun — despite being labelled a waste of taxpayers' money.

The improvements to the Jason Kenny Centre at Bolton One will include installing a sauna and steam room, as well as either upgrading or replacing gym equipment.

When the plans were revealed alongside a 3.5 per cent council tax rise in February, 2016, opposition councillors hit out at the expenditure and now say that 'serious questions' need asking over why the renovation is needed.

Bolton Tory leader, Cllr David Greenhalgh, said: "This is a landmark development for the town, named following the successes of one of the town's greatest Olympic sportsmen, and everyone would clearly strive for it be of the highest quality, but some serious questions have to be asked about why such major refurbishment is needed just five years after the initial build.

"Were flawed decisions made five years ago regarding the layout, choice of equipment, or lack of steam room?

"I'm afraid I do not believe it is the correct priority for £1 million of Bolton taxpayers' money to be used to upgrade an already quality venue rather than improve some facilities and publicly owned buildings throughout Bolton that stand in complete disrepair, and are in huge need of TLC."

The council says the changes to the centre, which opened in 2012, are being made to provide state-of-the-art facilities at leisure centre prices.

Council leader Cllr Cliff Morris said: “How can this be said to be a waste of money when the government’s agenda is to get more people healthy?

“This is a very well-used facility and we have listened to the people of Bolton – this is what they want.

“People were coming to us and saying that it wasn’t a proper leisure centre without a sauna and steam room and I happen to agree with them.

"Bolton One opened five years ago and it is important that we refurbish it now to keep the facilities and equipment up-to-date for our members and residents."

The £30.6 million centre's gym, main fitness suite and free weights room will be refurbished and have equipment upgraded or replaced.

The studio and changing rooms will also be refurbished and a new sauna and steam room installed.

Cllr Sean Hornby, Bolton UKIP leader, said: "It is absolutely scandalous and a complete waste of public money to spend this amount on a building that is only a few years old.

"How can this be justified? We are not in an economic position to do it.

"This £1 million could be spent on roads that are crumbling beneath us, or on children's centres — there is a list a mile long of services that have been cut."

Lib Dem leader Cllr Andrew Martin added: "This council assigns huge chunks of money without any sort of idea about what the need is and what the benefits will be.

"They ought to listen to the public more about how this money is spent."

To allow the work to take place, there will be a number of changes at Bolton One between now and the expected completion date in September.

The fitness suite has been temporarily moved into the University of Bolton Sports Hall. There will be no free weights available and a reduced number of classes will take place in the studio.

The changing facilities will also not be available during this period, but members can still change and shower in the swimming changing facilities on the ground floor.

To compensate for the inconvenience to members, all Bolton One memberships will be changed to a 'walkabout' membership so they can use any of the town's leisure centres.