VERWOOD Leisure Centre is to be bought by Morrisons.

After years of talks, bosses at East Dorset District Council have finally struck a deal with the supermarket giant over land in Brock Way.

The sale, which goes before councillors on Wednesday, will mean a bigger store, extra car parking and a petrol filling station.

The council intends to plough money from the sale into new leisure facilities, including extending the Hub and building a “community and educational sports facility” at Emmanuel Middle School.

Verwood Leisure Centre was built in the early 1980s. Owned by the district council and managed by Verwood Community Association, it has a three-court sports hall, fitness, health and beauty facilities.

A council spokesman said it has come “to the end of its natural life” and no longer meets the community’s needs.

District council leader Councillor Spencer Flower said the sale represents a “win-win” for residents.

“The proposed movement of leisure facilities to The Hub and Emmanuel Middle School will mean a major investment in the town’s future,” he said.

Verwood Town Councillor Alec Nicholls welcomed the news.

“In the last 20 years our town has grown such that we do need more facilities,” he said. “The leisure centre has good equipment but needs a more modern suite for it to go in.

“The town has outgrown it. Having lots of different attractions in one place at the Hub sounds like a good idea.”

Councillor Lindsey Dedden remembers a time when Verwood had four petrol stations. It currently has one, the Shell garage on Ringwood Road.

“A bit of competition might be a good thing,” she said. “It might mean more of a chance for people to get fuel cheaper.”

And deputy mayor Cllr Simon Gibson said any increase in retail space was a good thing.

“We’ve had trouble getting sports facilities in the town,” he said. “We need to keep things fresh and attract as many people as possible.”