Forget the new much-hyped swimming pool, disappointed Islanders have learned they are likely to get an adventure golf course and a cafe instead.

Architects working for Swale council's £20m levelling-up bid for Sheerness revealed the about-turn at the Sheppey area committee on Tuesday, as predicted by KentOnline.

In a revamp planned for the Sheppey Leisure Centre at Beachfields, a GP surgery would be moved downstairs along with a new cafe.

But Sheerness town councillor Chris Reed objected.

She said: "Moving the GP surgery downstairs makes a lot of sense but what Islanders are calling out for is a cafe or restaurant with sea views.

"Why can't the cafe be upstairs with a veranda linking it to the top of the seawall so those with prams and wheelchairs can access it easily?"

One of the architects replied that nothing had been confirmed but added that they were working to a "tight budget".

The firm, GT3 Architects from Nottingham, also showed councillors and members of the public at Eastchurch village hall a mock-up of how the entrance to Beachfields from the town's railway station might look.

It showed what appeared to be a pedestrianised Bridge Road and a line of market-style huts, but no Welcome To Sheerness sign.

Sheerness town councillor Brian Spoor said later: "It is important the 'welcome' sign is brought back. It was taken away, along with a red mine, a long time ago. Sheerness has lost a lot of its identity. It's time we got it back."

Regardless of what the architects say, the town council has already commissioned it's own sign based on the original which spanned the pavement.

The meeting heard that plans for a new heated indoor swimming pool, which had been included previously because experts said the existing one was no longer "not fit for purpose", would have to wait until a second phase which would need additional funding.

New health and fitness facilities could include a Tag Active assault course, soft play area, outdoor gym and new public toilets by the sandpit.

Several members of the public reminded council officials that their top priority was getting a disabled-friendly route along the promenade at Neptune Terrace to link Sheerness to Minster. Cycles, prams and wheelchairs are currently blocked by a flight of steep concrete steps.

At a previous meeting there had also been a strong lobby for a tidal pool to be built on the beach to encourage safe paddling regardless of the state of the tide.

As part of the levelling-up bid now on the cards, Sheppey College would be expanded into a surplus council car park to accommodate a "junior college". Work has already begun on converting Master's House, former council offices in Trinity Road, into community studios and workspaces.