MANAGERS at the Huddersfield Sikh Leisure Centre want to extend the building to make it more user friendly.

The elected management committee of the Prospect Street centre has applied to Kirklees Council for planning permission to extend the centre slightly and alter it internally.

The work will include creating two separate entrances, one for the centre's fitness suite and another for the main hall.

Centre manager Balbir Singh Uppal said this was to allow both areas to be used at once.

He said: "Currently, if there is an event in the main hall we have to lock up the fitness suite because of security and access.

"If the work goes ahead, we will be able to operate social functions at the same time as fitness."

Mr Uppal said the alterations to the building would mainly involve refurbishing the showers, changing rooms and fitness suite.

A bar area may also be created.

Mr Uppal said: "The centre was built in 1991 and it was looking like it needed work, so the new management committee decided it was time."

He said money for the project was still being sought.

He said: "Planning permission is the first hurdle really. Grants are something we are still looking at, but nothing has been secured."

Planning officers at Kirklees Council are expected to make a decision in a few weeks' time.