LEISURE centre chiefs who lost a contract to run a county facility have been compared to the Brittas Empire.

Stroud MP Neil Carmichael likened the former management of newly-revamped Stratford Park leisure centre in Stroud to the BBC sitcom The Brittas Empire.

Mr Carmichael made the disparaging comments as he hailed the successful re-opening of the Stratford Park Leisure Centre following a £750,000 refurbishment under the new contractor SLM.

The 1990's TV show starred Chris Barrie playing Gordon Brittas, the embattled manager of Whitbury New Town Leisure Centre.

Highlighting the reopening of the facility, the Tory MP praised the Conservative-led Stroud District Council "for having the imagination to get on with the job of delivering an outstanding centre with so many improvements on the previous regime".

He added: "Gone are the days of Mr Brittas and the 'Brittas Empire'. Instead, we have an efficiently run organisation with clean facilities.

"The changing rooms are absolutely excellent and I invite members to come and see them at any time – preferably to change for some sport.

Impressive

"The centre demonstrates councils can do things properly if they put their minds to it, and Stroud district council has done exactly that. The centre expects some 25,000 users from the community around Stroud, which is a fairly impressive number."

Parkwood didn't win the contract to run the centre from November 2011, after council chief executive David Hagg told them "rapid improvements" were needed in cleanliness in 2009. At that time the council sent in its own cleaners and charged £2,500 to Parkwood.

Earlier that year cleaners sparked a scare after mistakenly mixed cleaning fluids – the fire service was called in with chemical suits to deal with a noxious vapour.

In 2010 a swimmer complained after a toilet was blocked for four days. And in 2008, legionella bacterium was detected.

Mr Carmichael praised Dursley pool and highlighted Stroud RFC's desire to find a new ground.

A Parkwood Leisure spokeswoman said: "Parkwood Leisure is very disappointed to learn of Mr Carmichael's comments.

"We operate 84 leisure facilities on behalf of 27 clients and employs the 4,500 staff. The company's experience ranges from the management of 50m international swimming pools and state of the art fitness gyms, to ice rinks, theatres and conference venues.

"Parkwood Leisure has excellent partnership agreements in existence with organisations such as the Amateur Swimming Association, British Water Polo and the England Squash and Racquetball Association."