BLACKBURN'S Waves complex is to lose its cafe bar as part of a reshuffle of leisure facilities.

And leisure bosses at Blackburn with Darwen Council have unveiled plans to move the Regency Fitness Suite from its existing home inside King George's Hall to the Waves complex.

As a result of the switch, the cafe -- which is said to be popular during school holidays -- will close.

The space inside King George's Hall left when the fitness suite moves will be used to create extra conferencing facilities.

A report to this Thursday's executive board states that the council, which runs both complexes, is having to turn a lot of bookings for conference facilities away because the existing hall becomes fully booked quickly.

In her report to the executive board, Coun Kate Hollern, in charge of leisure at the council, said: "The unit occupied by the Regency at present can be used to offer additional and more varied seminar space to hirers who cannot currently be accommodated because the building is fully-booked.

"These potential hirers are currently turned away and take their books to other venues outside authority control, or even outside the borough."

But she adds: "The disadvantages to KGH include further disruption from the developments and also a new limited scope to the services offered.

"Lack of differentiation in services would mean the building being severely effected by any downturn in the seminar market.

"However, continuous redevelopment revitalises the complex and maintains the prestigious quality image of the venue."

The cost of renovating the space inside King George's Hall is expected to cost £40,000.

The council anticipates recouping £30,000 a year in increased incomes.

The council anticipates spending £230,000 moving the Regency to Waves, but will save £80,000 a year from 'rationalisation' of staff at Waves and the Regency.

Staff who currently work in the Lagoon cafe will be relocated to other catering sites around the borough.

Coun Hollern, in her report, describes the cafe as 'not efficient outside of school holiday hours.'

She believes the loss of revenue by closing the cafe will be more than made up by the cash made through extra vending machines on the site.

It is expected that by moving the Regency into Waves, the cost of subsidising both venues will be reduced.