THE Greig Hall site in Alcester will close for a month while essential health and safety works are carried out.

The future of the site was decided after a three-day court hearing at the High Court in Birmingham in December last year, following a long-running legal dispute with the Greig Trustees.

The outcome saw Stratford-on-Avon District Council take ownership of the site.

The news had been called the start of a new chapter for the Greig.

Everyone Active, which manages the district council’s other leisure centres in Stratford, Shipston, Southam, and Studley will manage the leisure facilities on behalf of the district council.

However, the district council has carried out an initial audit of the site and said that this has concluded that it is necessary to close the lifestyles building for the month of February to 'carry out essential health and safety works'.

The closure will allow the council to commence a refurbishment programme which it is hoped will improve the facilities for users.

During the closure, current membership holders will be offered the opportunity to use the other district council leisure facilities run by Everyone Active in Studley, Stratford, Shipston and Southam.

A council spokesman said: "Everyone Active aims to contact all customers directly over the coming days to provide as much service continuity as possible for those who wish to take advantage of this opportunity. For any other enquiries regarding the use or membership of the centre, please contact: greiginfo@everyoneactive.com."

Councillor Tony Jefferson, leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council, said: “It is unfortunate that we are having to close the site, but our priorities are public safety and using the closure to improve the leisure facilities on site. Closing the site for a short time kills two birds with one stone.”

The centre will close at 4pm on Friday, January 31 and reopen on March 2.