WEYMOUTH Sports Club has been renamed 'Redlands Community Sports Hub' as new managers from Weymouth College seek to give the facility a fresh lease of life.

The Dorchester Road centre will take up its new name tomorrow.

The change marks the first step of ambitious plans set out by the new management team. Weymouth College has taken over the management and running of the sports club buildings and will take over the rest of the grounds from April next year.

Its plans for the site include artificial grass football pitches, new changing rooms, improved parking and, potentially, a new athletics and football stadium.

Deputy principal at Weymouth College Paul Lonsdale said: "We are thrilled to unveil the new identity for the Redlands Community Sports Hub.

"In developing the new name we chose something we felt reflected the heritage of the centre, which is part of the local community but also a sense of energy and a buzz that we hope to create for Redlands in the future.

"With the 2012 Olympic Games coming to Weymouth we plan to provide a top-level venue for the community that will reflect the town's position as a national leader in the provision of sports facilities."

Direction of operations at Weymouth College Kieren Hasler added: "The main thing people will notice in the short term is that we are looking to refurbish the bar, that will start on October 20 and will be completed by November 1.

"There will also be some other minor refurbishments but nothing too noticeable.

"In the medium term the next big project is third generation artificial turf football pitches, which we hope to start work on in May next year subject to planning approval.

"Alongside that we are proposing extra car parking."

He added that all staff at the centre would continue their employment under the same terms and conditions but one aspect that would change is the membership for users of the centre.

The current membership scheme is to be scrapped and replaced with a one-off lifelong membership, which will be free for children and pensioners and cost £2 for others.

There will be an official opening of the Redlands Community Sports Hub on November 1 with a community open day.