A VEIL of secrecy has been drawn over ongoing "contractual issues" at The Herons leisure centre, in Haslemere, by Waverley Borough Council.

Discussions on the beleaguered centre have now been held in secret session for three years. Leader of the council David Harmer told The Herald that he was unable to give a time scale as to when the issues would be open to public scrutiny.

The Herons has suffered numerous maintenance problems since it was built under the Liberal Democrat-controlled council in 1998.

In 1999 Waverley admitted that the overspend on The Herons leisure centre had exceeded £1 million and other capital projects across the borough could be under threat as a result.

Later that year, the Conservative-controlled Waverley Borough Council announced that building problems were not likely to be resolved for another three to four years.

But members and officers of Waverley Borough Council are sworn to silence about the precise contractual issues under protracted discussion in the council's overview and scrutiny committees.

A spokesman for Waverley Borough Council said: "We can reassure the public that the work being carried out at The Herons is not for health and safety purposes, but I cannot discuss the issues we are dealing with."

The continuing delays come despite the fact that in February 2000 Waverley told a committee that the main building defects on The Herons would be remedied by the end of that month.

Committee members were also told then that the contractors were still on site making good the items on the formal schedule of defects notice which had been drawn up by Waverley architects.

The leader of Waverley's Liberal Democrats, Chris Slyfield, criticised the Conservative majority.

"In their manifesto, they claimed they wanted to encourage more open government but they have clearly failed to live up to yet another of their promises," he stated.

In reply, Mr Harmer said: "We have been trying to get this matter resolved sooner rather than later, but that does not mean we will be rushing through the work.

"Everything must be completed thoroughly."

Mr Harmer went on to reiterate the spokesman's comment to reassure the public that the facilities are "perfectly safe" for its users, but added that he was unable to give any more details about the issue.

To date, defects at the centre have included water leaks and problems with the showers.

An area of roof and floor in the squash courts was also replaced following water damage at the beginning of last year after squash players complained that the problems had occurred on and off for two years.

A spokesman for Waverley Borough Council said this week that the council was still involved in ongoing contractual defects and was taking legal advice over the matter.