A CONCERNED councillor has hit back at claims over the new-style changing rooms at a Bromsgrove leisure centre.

Bromsgrove district councillor June Griffiths (Con-Alvechurch), portfolio holder for leisure services, said a lot of time was invested in consulting people over the new communal changing rooms at the Dolphin Centre, in School Drive.

The results of the consultation about the proposed changes included 72 per cent of respondents rated the privacy of the proposed changing rooms as being average to very good and 68 per cent saying the proposed improvements would encourage them to use the centre more often.

Regarding other problems raised she said benches were due to be installed soon along with top sections of the cubicles that would raise them virtually to ceiling height.

Plastic matting has been installed in changing cubicles to create a dry area and there would also be additional clothes hooks. Regarding tickets, random checks were carried out by staff and the shower situation was being monitored.

Cllr Griffiths said the change to communal facilities provided a better family friendly experience and it also enabled staff to have more presence.

Concessionary free two-hour car parking for Dolphin Centre users would also be available.

She added: "With any new building there will be teething problems and other matters that only come to the fore as a direct result of operational experience.

"So I would ask all users to continue to complete the customer comment forms available at the centre because we use those comments to continually identify ways of improving the level and quality of the service we provide to our customers."