DELAYS have again hit plans to start building the long-awaited Downham Lifestyles Project.

A contract for the PFI leisure and community centre was due to be signed on March 11 but is again running late.

Lewisham Mayor Steve Bullock told the council on March 2 the preferred bidder, Leisure Connection (LC), which was appointed in July 2003, had slowed up proceedings while it focused on another project in east London.

Despite having the council's dissatisfaction spelt out and a target date of March 11 set, no contract was signed with Lewisham Council.

But on the same day LC did finalise and sign a deal with Brent Council for the £16m Willesden Leisure Centre.

The mayor also fuelled rumours LC's resources are being stretched by the Brent and Lewisham contracts when he said: "The preferred bidder is attempting to balance resources between the two projects.

"With one project manager handling both projects this has led to a pinchpoint in negotiations with the consortium."

It is expected the contract will be signed this week after officers scheduled a private meeting tomorrow to accept the deal.

Downham councillor and Liberal Democrat group leader Mark Morris said: "The library was demolished more than two years ago and the pool went a decade back.

"People are missing out and we should not miss sight of what these delays mean for the community."

In a 2002 Labour Party manifesto the leisure centre was originally slated for completion in 2004 but is now expected to open in summer 2006.

The project, which LC will manage for 30 years at a cost to the council of £70m, will provide Downham with a 25m pool, fitness studio, gymnasium, library, community room, creche, exhibition space, music and drama studio and two GP surgeries.

A council spokesman said: "The Downham Lifestyles Centre will be a fantastic asset to the community "There have been some delays in the project but we have made progress with our partners and are now finalising the details to move to the next stage."