“Extra measures” are being put in place to improve Wycombe Leisure Centre’s slippery car park which has to shut every time it rains for safety reasons.

It comes after a pensioner reportedly fell and died in the car park of the new £25 million leisure centre in December last year.

Harry Carter, 85, died in hospital a week after slipping and hitting his head on December 2, it has been reported.

A jury inquest at Buckinghamshire Coroner’s Court in Beaconsfield in June this year found that his death was accidental.

A spokesman for Wycombe District Council said the car park is shut “as a precaution to protect the public” when the weather is bad.

They confirmed that they are working with a contractor to put “additional measures” in place to “maintain and improve the facility” but did not confirm what those measures would be or when they would be completed.

The situation has been branded “ludicrous” by a member of the public who spoke to the Bucks Free Press but wanted to remain anonymous.

He said: “My step-daughter visits a lot and every time it rains they have to shut the car park because it is dangerous. It seems strange, the council spent millions on this wonderful new sports centre but cannot get the car park right.

“It is absolutely ludicrous. We live in the UK, it is going to rain a lot. Something needs to be done.”

Whenever rain is forecast, the leisure centre car park is coned off with a notice placed jointly by Places for People Leisure – which operates the sports centre – and Wycombe District Council.

The note reads: “As part of our planned maintenance programmes, Places Leisure and Wycombe District Council have completed tests on the surface of the car park.

“This highlighted some areas of the car park surface which require attention.

“As a precautionary measure, until essential maintenance can be completed, we have jointly taken the decision to close the car park when rain is forecasted.

“When the car park is closed, customers can use the Park and Ride car park free of charge located opposite Waitrose.”

Wycombe Leisure Centre was opened at the beginning of 2016, replacing the former Wycombe Sports Centre which shut after 40 years.

The leisure centre development was the first phase of the Handy Cross Hub project, which has already seen a Waitrose superstore open and a Park and Ride and new children’s gym and nursery.

There are also plans to open a new 150-bed Hampton by Hilton hotel, offices and more at the hub, at the top of Marlow Hill.