SPORTS facilities in Waltham Forest are so poor that they need £46 million worth of investment over the next ten years.

That is the conclusion of a council-endorsed report into public leisure provision across the borough.

Authors Strategic Leisure Limited (SLL) say current facilities are in need of significant renovation as they are either too small, too old-fashioned or too inaccessible.

They say even a "minimum" spend of £28m would fail to provide adequate access for a population expected to grow by more than 5,000, and which the Government hopes will take part in ten per cent more sports activities by 2016.

Consultancy firm SLL used formulae drawn up by Sport England to compare local supply with demand.

They say Waltham Forest already needs four more six-lane 25m swimming pools, and this will rise to six if the population and participation increase as expected.

The report also calculates that the borough could need around ten four-court sports halls and two more synthetic turf pitches by 2016.

SLL argue that a £10m pool and sports hall complex should be built on each of the Cathall and Kelmscott Leisure Centre sites.

They recommend a new multi-use hall at Larkswood, and a modest extension and refurbishment at Leyton Leisure Lagoon, both of which would cost £3m.

Waltham Forest Pool and Track is described as being in "a spiral of decline" and SLL say £20m should be spent on its replacement, which could be split between the current site and the nearby Peter May sports ground.

They recommend an eight-lane 25m pool, a six-court sports hall, a large public gym and synthetic and five-a-side pitches.

Although no firm suggestions have yet been made about funding, the report recommends tying the project in with the borough's Building Schools for the Future programme.

The report was approved by the council's cabinet on Tuesday night.

Councillors also resolved to extend Greenwich Leisure Limited's contract to run local sports facilities by two years while more detailed assessments are undertaken.

Cllr Geraldine Reardon, cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport, said: "It's fairly clear and not much of a revelation that our leisure centres are badly in need of refurbishment and, in some cases, redevelopment."