More than one third of Rochford residents never use the council's sports and leisure facilities, a survey has revealed.

Councillors today will be looking at access to leisure, culture and heritage as part of the district's community plan including a renewed attempt to encourage a company to build a new cinema in Rayleigh.

The plan is due to go out to public consultation later in the year before being formally adopted by members as a blueprint for the future.

In a council report, chief executive Paul Warren said access to leisure was important to all.

He said: "Leisure is often associated with active participation in sport but it is much broader than this. Almost everything we do can be classed as leisure."

He said a sample of 1,265 residents in the district showed that 57 per cent were satisfied with the council's sports and leisure centres but more than a third had never used the facilities.

Published Tuesday, April 22, 2003

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