A leisure centre planned as part of a major 2,000 home development in a Suffolk seaside town could be "the best in the county," a councillor has said.

Felixstowe town councillor Seamus Bennett told a public consultation meeting for the North Felixstowe Garden Neighbourhood scheme on Thursday that the proposed facility would be state-of-the-art and well connected to the town through walking and cycling routes.

The leisure centre is being touted to replace the current centre on the seafront, which is nearly 40 years old and is set to be built as part of the garden neighbourhood, which will cover a 350-acre site stretching from the A14 Dock Spur roundabout to Eastward Ho!

READ MORE: Concern about North Felixstowe Garden Neighbourhood scheme

Mr Bennett said: "We need to upgrade seriously and we will end up with the best leisure centre in the county if what is proposed comes forward."

He revealed that the current facility in Undercliff Road West was "really inefficient" and the centre's boilers often packed up, meaning the swimming pool water could not be heated.

Mr Bennett, who also represents Eastern Felixstowe ward on East Suffolk Council, also said that the centre - and the town's other leisure facility, Brackenbury Sports Centre - were being subsidised annually by the council.

East Suffolk councillor Seamus Bennett said the new leisure centre could be the best in the countyEast Suffolk councillor Seamus Bennett said the new leisure centre could be the best in the county (Image: East Suffolk Council) Mr Bennett said the facility could attract visitors from across the county, adding: "The facilities at any new leisure centre need to be fully connected with cycling, walking and transport links.

"We don't want this development to be a ghetto on the edge of town."

East Suffolk Council chief executive Chris Bally told the meeting that the council had looked at examples of leisure facilities at Portsmouth, Exeter and Spelthorne.