LEISURE bosses yesterday revealed further plans for the £3m refurbishment of Darlington's Dolphin Centre.

The project will see alterations to the changing rooms and fitness studios, enhanced meeting and conference facilities, and see the town's registry office and marriage hall based there.

Proposals for the scheme, which council chiefs say have taken customer views and complaints into account, were revealed at the end of last year.

At a meeting in the town hall yesterday, Darlington Borough Council's assistant leisure and arts director gave councillors a progress report.

Steve Thompson said improvements to the swimming pool changing areas were a key element.

He said: "The wet changing area will be refurbished to provide a family changing facility. It becomes a changing village, like anyone will have seen if they have visited Center Parcs.

"It is proposed that the area be fully staffed. Vandalism and cleanliness have been key areas to address as a result of customer feedback."

He also said the main staircase was to be re-routed, creating a "hotel-style" lobby that would provide more space at the entrance and reception area.

Kitchen facilities would also be moved to create a ground-floor caf-bar.

The centre could become a central point for people to book tickets for shows and events at the Arts Centre and Civic Theatre.

Mr Thompson said: "The current Civic Theatre box office is the other side of the ring road and is not easy to reach.

"A front box office operation can be part of the reception and customer services area within the Dolphin Centre. Our IT systems now are capable of cross-venue booking."

He also insisted that there were no plans to move any of the existing businesses next to the leisure centre, facing onto the Market Place.

Discussions with Darlington Association on Disability (DAD) about the Dolphin Centre plans are ongoing. The organisation's nearby centre has seen rising numbers of clients.

Mr Thompson said: "Certainly we're not evicting anybody, but there is a concern from DAD that their capacity is growing as well. We're looking at the future of both venues."