A SOUTHAMPTON leisure centre is set to be sold off despite objections from the community. 

Yesterday, civic chiefs approved plans to permanently close St Mary's Leisure Centre and begin work to sell the council owned site. 

It comes as the centre closed in December when a contract with Solent University to run the site came to an end. 

Since then protests have been held with over 1,000 people signing a petition against the closure. 

But despite this and 86 per cent of people saying the closure would have a negative impact in a council consultation, now the grade II listed building is expected to be turned into housing. 

Speaking to the Echo after the decision, Cllr John Hannides, the council's cabinet member for finance and capital assets said the authority would now work with resident organisations to see what support can be provided to enhance facilities in the community. 

"We can understand the passion that people feel for the leisure centre. I understand their feelings about the proposals. 

"We have to acknowledge there is the Solent Complex which is a brand new, modern leisure centre. Something like 16 of the groups that previously used St Marys Leisure Centre and now using the Solent Complex. 

"We are only in this situation because for such a long time under Labour control the centre received no investment at all."

He added that the council's preference would be for the building to now become housing. 

It is thought that the closure of the centre could save the council £3,000 a week compared to if it was to continue running as normal. 

This comes after leader of the opposition, Cllr Satvir Kaur told the Echo that Labour did invest in the centre during its time in charge of the council.

"The Conservatives are the ones in power and do have a choice. They are the ones who have chosen to close St Mary’s and go against their own public consultation where 87 per cent disagreed to with their decision" Cllr Kaur said. 

Now campaigners against the change are set to present a petition to the council against the closure which has received over 1,500 signatures. 

Campaigner, Nick Chaffey branded the council's decision as a "disgraceful act of vandalism, leaving hundreds of users, especially young people with nowhere to go".

"It claims attendance at the centre has fallen but the opposite is true according to its won figures. Numbers have been rising and the centre was often fully booked towards the end of last year.

"It claims the building has suffered neglect, it has but it was used by Solent University last December, what has happened since then to justify closure?"

Now a protest is set to take place outside the Civic Centre at 1.20pm tomorrow ahead of a full council meeting.