Residents have united to launch a petition demanding a 'full and detailed statement' from Kingston Council following further delays to the borough's new leisure centre.

The local authority is in the process of reviewing plans for the Kingfisher replacement after it announced earlier this month the project's cost now stands at £79.5 million, almost double the original budget that was first announced of £39.6 million.

The council pointed to the country's current financial situation and its 'unprecedented' impact on local budgets including uplifts in the costs of construction, labour and energy, and the stretched supply chains across the country as the prime reasons for their return to the drawing board.

However, Kingston residents remain unsatisfied with the council's response and have launched a petition demanding a full-scale explanation regarding the third delay to the leisure project, including details on timelines and measures that have been taken by the authority to address the financial pressures which have caused the latest setback.

Launched on Monday, 'SOS Kingfisher - give us back our leisure centre!' has already gained 770 signatures and is rapidly growing in support.

Local resident Mediha Boran is the woman behind the petition and explained to Nub News the lack of detail in the council's statement following the setback news was crucial to its launch. She stated residents have many questions to ask and a petition seemed to be the only way to start the process of getting some much-needed answers.

The mother of two said: "It's been horrifying to see the way our council and councillors have mismanaged the entire process over the last few years, seemingly ignoring the massive detrimental impact this will have on residents of all ages.

"The lack of transparency throughout, including realistic delivery dates, and ideas that were never affordable, has been particularly shocking. And the council statement earlier this month shirking any responsibility for the entire debacle - blaming external factors rather than their lack of planning and transparency - was a real slap in the face.

"Residents deserve better. Our demand is simple: we want those in power to give us back our leisure centre as soon as possible. And this petition is only the beginning, we will not stop until this monumental fiasco is rectified and we have a replacement."

Having launched on Monday, the petition from Kingston residents has already gained just shy of 800 signatures

The SOS Kingfisher petition is also asking for regular updates on the progress of the new complex and that relevant information is made available to the public.

Kingston's Banquet Record's owner Jon Tolley added that after 'so much mismanagement' residents fully intend on holding the council to account and fear that the financial pressures given as the reason for the centre's delay, could also have a knock on effect for other projects throughout the borough.

The former councillor and father of one told Nub News: "This pool is an absolutely essential facility for Kingston, and we've already been deprived of it for too long. My toddler wasn't even born when this fiasco started and all her life she's not been able to splash about. But it's not just toddlers, the impact of not being taught to swim could be that an entire generation of Kingstonians grows up without this essential life skill. 

"We want the council to understand that residents are united in anger over the way they've handled every aspect of this process. We're at a point where it feels the plans could sink or swim, and we're sending out an SOS."

During last Thursday's Place Committee, Council Leader Andreas Kirsch stressed he fully understood residents frustrations and underlined the authority's commitment to delivering the new leisure centre.

Mr Kirsch said: "I fully understand residents are frustrated and disappointed and I regret that factors outside of the councils control have forced the delay in the project. The world around has changed, the construction industry is facing unprecedented pressures plus the wider economy, as a country we are seeing inflation rates not seen for decades and across all sectors we are facing labour and skill shortages.

"The council has taken a financial prudent decision to review the proposals of the new leisure centre and our commitment to build a new leisure centre on the same sight remains firmly in place."

A number of residents are expected to be in attendance for the council's budget meeting tomorrow evening with questions prepared regarding the leisure centre project.

Original plans for the centre included two swimming pools, a café, five-a-side rooftop football pitches and a climbing wall. The council is now looking into alternatives to the original facility and will provide more details in due course.