A NEW leisure centre is causing controversy because residents say it is too expensive.

The Odyssey Health and Fitness Club, due to open in the next few weeks, has been built on part of the former Glory Mill site in Wooburn Green.

One condition of the planning application for the Odyssey Health and Fitness Club was that people with a Freestyle card used at Wycombe District Council run leisure centres could use the centre at a discount during off peak hours.

But residents said it is not good enough and that it is still too expensive for the average Wooburn resident.

One resident said: "They said at a public meeting the leisure centre would be reasonable for local residents and everyone was happy with that. But now it's nearly ready to open and after inquiring about the costs, they are on par with the Oasis in Marlow. It's very expensive."

Facilities at the centre will include a swimming pool, gym, studios, sauna, steam room and a community centre.

Ted Samson, of the Wooburn Residents Association, said he knows that there had been concern over prices but nobody had yet come to the association.

He said: "We have heard about the various prices and that it will cost about £700 for a full years membership."

The £5 million luxury club, one of the largest fitness projects in the county, occupies 35,000 sq ft of the five-acre site and hopes to create up to 100 jobs.

Wycombe District and parish councillor Julia Langley said: "We will have a member on the managing committee so we can bring the prices up with them. There will be a freestyle card scheme or people within the parish that offer discounts as they do at Handy Cross Sports Centre."

Kate Love, sales and marketing director for Odyssey, elaborated: "We have set up a membership which is for the local parish and for those who have a Freestyle card."