SQUASH players who use the facilities at Devizes Leisure Centre say it will be the end for their competitive league if one of the courts closes as part of the proposed refurbishment of the building.

Up to 70 players take part in the league and they say that, should one of the courts disappear, their regular matches would take too long to finish.

Sandy Gale, who at the age of 71 still plays squash three times a week at the leisure centre on the grounds of Devizes School, said: "This will almost certainly do away with competitive squash in the town. Each match can go on for up to an hour and in winter we have up to ten leagues playing.

"That means it could be midnight before all the games in a match are played. It makes no sense at all.

"Everyone is very upset about it and we mean to make as big a fuss as possible. I am going to take it up with Roundway parish council and I know that other players are going to complain to their councillors."

Another regular user of the squash courts, Devizes butcher Steve Cook, said: "The courts are very well supported and it's difficult enough getting booked onto one now. What it's going to be like when there's only one court doesn't bear thinking about. We may have to go elsewhere. But why should we? This is our town."

The closure of one of the two squash courts is proposed as part of Kennet District Council's £1.8million upgrade of the centre, which was opened by The Queen in 1990.

The building is due to be expanded outwards and sideways to make room for a larger fitness suite and bigger and better changing rooms.

In a consultation questionnaire available at the leisure centre, the council claims that the decision to close one squash court was taken in favour of providing an "activity room", which would be available for sessions of aerobics, dance and children's activities.

The questionnaire states: "This new area is intended to accommodate a crche during the morning time, which traditionally has a very low demand for squash. The additional activity room would ensure that the remaining squash court area is devoted to squash."

But the Gazette has learned that the squash court will, in fact, be converted to office space, currently provided in temporary buildings at the far side of the centre. These cabins will be removed so that the present changing rooms can be expanded.

The remaining squash court will be used as a crche during the day, returning to its original use in the evenings.

The activity room is actually to be provided in a new first-floor area to be built above what is now the cafeteria and fitness suite.

Gillian Thompson, Kennet's facilities manager, said: "We needed to find adequate space for the activity room which means providing office space where the squash court is now. But I must stress this is only a proposal, nothing is written in stone.

"We are carrying out a consultation process with our users, which is due to end on August 23. We are asking as many people as possible to complete the questionnaire. We will take all views on board and fit in what we can.

"We have been in touch with the Squash Rackets Association to see what opportunities there are for the provision of squash facilities in Devizes, but we have yet to hear back.

"With this redevelopment we hope to increase the range of activities available at the leisure centre for the benefit of the whole community."

Among the other proposed changes that have caused criticism is the closure of the sauna, the only one in the town, to make way for expanded changing facilities, including access for people with special needs.

The council's questionnaire claims: "To comply with the Disability Discrimination Act, we have to lose the sauna area. This is due to the fact that the space, which the sauna currently occupies, is essentially required for the new changing facilities."

Users are invited to ring the leisure centre on (01380) 728894 and discuss the proposals with Steve Drewett or a member of the duty manager's team.