POOR communication has led to delays in building a £16m leisure centre, a report claims.

In September Lewisham Council confirmed the Downham Lifestyles Centre will open in February next year nearly three years later than originally planned.

Now an independent report has blamed the delay on a "lack of clarity in communication" between the council and its chosen Private Finance Initiative (PFI) bidder.

The centre will have leisure facilities including a 25m swimming pool and gym, a library, a creche and two GP surgeries.

It is being funded by a joint PFI between the council and Leisure Connection Ltd.

Delays in agreeing the contract to run the centre mean it will not open until next year, even though it was hoped to build it by summer 2004.

Lewisham Mayor Steve Bullock ordered the report after admitting he was "disturbed" the PFI contract took nearly two years to sign.

Report author Penny Badcoe says the delay was mainly down to communication problems between Leisure Connection Ltd and council bosses.

She says: "This report highlights the need for clear and formalised communication throughout the procurement process.

"Communication between officers and members was not always as effective as it might have been."

The report also criticises Leisure Connection Ltd for agreeing a PFI contract in Brent, north London, three months after being selected to oversee the Downham project.

It says Leisure Connection Ltd was overambitious and criticises it for prioritising work on the Brent project.

Downham ward councillor Mark Morris says the report leaves "many questions to be answered".

He added: "It is all very well saying PFI schemes are complicated but if they knew this, they should not have said the centre would open in 2004.

"People's hopes were cruelly raised, only to be dashed."

Plans for the cabinet to discuss the report at a meeting were scrapped last week.

A council spokesman says the report was withdrawn so the council can clarify' some of the issues it raises.