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Following what Ashfield District Council describes as a “positive and productive” consultation with residents, the authority has tweaked its plans for the centre.

The authority is planning to build the £14 million centre on land next to the existing Festival Hall leisure centre in Kirkby, before demolishing the current facility.

Councillor Andy Meakin, council vice-chairman, said: “The plans have really taken shape since we consulted with residents last year.

An artist's impression of the proposed gym in the new leisure centre.

“We have listened to what is important to those who will ultimately use the facility once it is complete.

“The facility mix provides something for everyone with some additional activities that aren’t available for miles around.

“This centre will be a facility Kirkby can be really proud of.”

The council said 93 per cent of respondents said health and wellbeing was important to them, so the plans "have therefore now incorporated a dedicated health and wellbeing suite, with a sensory room”.

An artist's impression of the how the pool in the new leisure centre could look.

It said gym and fitness was important to 72 per cent of respondents, so the centre "will therefore have a larger gym area than originally planned”, including a dedicated area for weight training, a spinning studio and fitness studio.

The council said 69 per cent of people said it was important to have activities for all and "the latest mix of facilities includes adventure play and water play for young children, as well as warmer water suitable for families and those with long term conditions or disabilities”.

As well as the pool and gym, the new centre is set to include a sports hall, cafe and climbing wall.

The plans have been endorsed by Paralympic swimming champion Ollie Hynd.

From left, Councillor Andy Meakin, Coun Daniel Williamson, Coun Tom Hollis and Coun Jason Zadrozny inspect the plans.

Ollie, from Kirkby, who won gold at London 2012 and Rio de Janeiro 2016 in the SM8 200 metres individual medley, as well as gold in the S8 400m freestyle in Rio, said: “It’s great to see the views of residents are being listened to and acted on.

“The swimming aspect of the plans are, of course, important to me.

“Having these facilities in my hometown can only be beneficial to the people of Kirkby and hopefully we will see more successful homegrown swimmers coming from the town.”

Step forward for Kirkby's new £14 million leisure centre