Ships and Castles could be sold off by Cornwall Council as the cost of maintenance work needing to be done at the leisure centre nears £2 million.

Yesterday the council launched a 'soft market test' for its leisure services review, which will look at options for cutting its leisure provision costs by transferring services to the private sector, other public sector organisations, or community groups, and the authority has not ruled out closure of the site.

A recent profile of Ships and Castles drawn up for Cornwall Council shows estimated maintenance backlog costs of £1.7 million of which 90 per cent, around £1.5 million, are deemed to be essential while the remaining 10 per cent is described as "desirable or long term costs."

A plan of the site drawn up at around the same time highlights the land on which the centre sits, part of a large section of Pendennis headland owned by Cornwall Council, with a note valuing the site at £1.6 to £2.2 million for "an alternative use/ development."

A spokesperson for the council said: "The council allocated £4 million to address urgent maintenance backlog issues across the whole leisure portfolio.

"As part of the implementation of this programme of planned work, issues have been identified at Ships and Castles including safe access for workers maintaining essential plant and equipment.

"Whilst the risks are mitigated currently, it is anticipated that the total cost of maintenance and repair backlog at the centre is circa £2 million.

"The council is considering a range of options, ranging from investment to partial or complete closure of the centre."

The leisure services review covers 15 venues across Cornwall which are currently run by Tempus Leisure under a contract that expires in 2017.

As a result, Cornwall Council is beginning the hunt for a new partner or partners to provide leisure provision at those sites, including the Princess Pavilion and Gyllyngdune Gardens in Falmouth, Helston Sports Centre, which currently has a maintenance backlog of £800,000, and Truro Leisure Centre, which has a backlog of £1.4 million and a site valuation of £500,000.

Interested organisations are invited to ask questions and submit their proposals online, and to register for one of two briefings, in Camborne on August 5 or St Austell on August 6.

Adam Paynter, cabinet member for partnerships, said: “Cornwall Council is committed to delivering a sustainable network of leisure facilities for our residents and visitors to enjoy for years to come. With help from partners and leisure providers, we are convinced we can find a way of making our network financially self-sufficient, innovative and independent from the pressures of local government budget cuts."

For more information visit www.cornwall.gov.uk/leisuretransfer.