A HIGH end health club has confirmed its interest in building a club on part of 40 acres of land in north Colchester.

David Lloyd, which has 78 clubs in the UK, wants to build the club near the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

The Gazette revealed last week how when Colchester Council invited interest from companies in its vision statement for north Colchester, David Lloyd was among those to respond.

But Pauline Hazel, borough councillor for Shrub End, which includes council-run tennis courts in Eudo Road, fears the new centre could spell the end for the courts, which could be sold off.

“These plans in Colchester does not sound encouraging for Eudo Road,” Mrs Hazel said.

“It is a great site there and it provides a very good service.

“The problem with something like a David Lloyd centre of excellence is that it neglects the grass roots players - the people who go just for a game of tennis and aren’t necessarily planning to ever play in an excellence centre are going to suffer.”

A spokesman for David Lloyd said: “We can confirm that we have been approached by the council and we are interested in building a new racquets club in Colchester.”