A FORMER leisure chief and his successor have been invited to a town council meeting to discuss axed plans.

Harwich Town Council wants Pierre Oxley, former councillor responsible for leisure at Tendring Council, and Steven Mayzes, current councillor responsible for leisure, to go head-to-head.

Mr Mayzes is in the Conservative-run administration which scrapped plans to refurbish Dovercourt swimming pool and Harwich sports centre.

Mr Oxley said: “I will definitely be attending. I can’t wait either. I will be bringing with me the business plans that financial officers said were financially affordable.

“It’s a sad state of affairs the refurbishment of the swimming pool, learner pool and sports centre won’t now happen. Dovercourt swimming pool is vile.”

Mr Mayzes has refused to say whether he will attend.

He said: “I have received no formal invitation as of yet, but when I do, I will consider it.

“It’s been in the public domain now for a long time and people have had their chance to comment on this and we need to spend time looking forward in a positive way.

“I need to decide whether it would be worthwhile for me to attend as an elected councillor. I don’t want to waste taxpayers’ time.”

The councillors have been invited to attend on September 16 or October 28.

Tendring Council last month axed plans to borrow up to £1.25million to overhaul facilities in Walton, Dovercourt and Harwich.