A LESIURE centre is facing a backlash from members after it announced plans to launch a controversial cancellation policy for group classes.

Starting from next week, Halstead Leisure Centre will be charging customers who fail to attend any classes they have booked onto.

The fee will apply if a class member fails to report their cancellation four hours before a class begins.

Any member of the leisure centre who subsequently has an outstanding charge to pay will not be allowed to sign up to future classes or use any of the facilities inside until they have settled up.

The new policy has caused concern among members however as they fear the four hour cancellation deadline is unfair.

Vanessa Clandfield, who has been regularly attending yoga classes at the leisure centre for several years, admitted she supported a new cancellation policy but had a number of concerns.

She said: “I understand why they have brought it in because classes are always overbooked.

“But there needs to be some flexibility and digression.

“Four hours seems very extreme.

“I work in London so if I get delayed on a train there is no way I would be able to give enough warning for cancelling evening classes.”

Vanessa joined some members in raising fears the success of the new policy may be affected by technical problems.

She said: “Very often the turnstiles aren’t working so what happens if I attend a class but can’t check in?

“I can see people getting charged unfairly.”

Others have also suggested the communication problems at the centre could be an issue.

On the leisure centre Facebook page Linda Woods said: “[The] leisure centre needs to answer the phones then.

“Many a time I have phoned to cancel a class and [get] just constant ringing.”

Linda Davis added: “They need to answer their phones, have an I.T. system that works and phones that don’t cut you off in the middle of a conversation when you do eventually get through.”

The new cancellation policy will be rolled out across all the leisure centres in the country run by Fusion Lifestyle.

A statement released by Halstead Leisure Centre aimed to reassure members any incorrect charges caused by technical errors would be removed.

A spokesman said: "We’ve listened to member feedback regarding the challenges around booking a space on a class and, to give all our members a fair opportunity to attend, we will now be charging a fee to anyone who does not attend a class they have booked on to.

"However, the fee will only apply if the class is not cancelled with at least four hours’ notice – this is to allow other members the opportunity to secure a space if there is a cancellation.

"In the event of any technical errors with the turnstiles, we will be able to waive the charges if the member has signed the manual register so members should be assured that this will only apply to those who genuinely haven’t participated in a class."