ALLEGED mismanagement of River Park Leisure Centre could eclipse the Silver Hill controversy, a campaigner has claimed.

Activist Martin Wilson repeated accusations that civic chiefs have wasted taxpayers’ money by not putting the facility out to the market since 1992 and have let it fall into disrepair.

He told the overview and scrutiny committee this was “arguably worse” than handling of the Silver Hill scheme, which has seen Winchester City Council rebuked by a High Court judge, and would similarly be ruled unlawful if brought to court.

Mr Wilson and Rosemary Burns are calling for an independent review of council decision-making over its contract with DC Leisure, now known as People for Places, in managing the ageing facility.

The Freedom of Information watchdog is “on the point of issuing a disclosure notice”, Mr Wilson added, referring to his complaint over requests made to the council for information on the leisure centre.