MID Devon District Council's plan to develop and enhance facilities at Lords Meadow Leisure Centre was put on hold at a meeting of the council on Wednesday night.

MDDC wanted to convert the existing large but under-used sports hall to accommodate a range of state-of-the-art facilities including a much bigger fitness studio (gym) and a sprung-floor area suitable for dance.

There has been a great deal of debate in the last few months since details were made public about the pros and cons of the £524,000 proposal.

While enhancement would benefit those who use the fitness and dance studios, badminton players and Tae Kwon Do students have said they could lose some or all of the facilities they currently use if the sports hall is converted or significantly reduced.

In the plan there is no future provision for badminton players at Lords Meadow Leisure Centre.

MDDC has been in discussion with Queen Elizabeth's Academy in Crediton during the last six months in an attempt to negotiate use of the QE Academy sports hall at Western Road, for use by those groups and users who could not be accommodated should the changes go ahead at Lords Meadow.

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