Coleraine Leisure Centre is losing £12,000 per week

The figure was raised when members of the Leisure and Environment Committee were asked to give the go-ahead to increased prices at the Leisure Centre.

During a debate about the price hike, it was mentioned that while Coleraine Leisure Centre is "mid table" for prices compared to other centres in other council areas, it is running at a loss.

Cllr Norman Hillis then asked directly how much money the Leisure Centre was losing each year.

"In the region of 650,000 to 700,000," replied Mr Carmichael.

After the meeting The Coleraine Times asked Council to provide a breakdown of figures for the Leisure Centre and also for two other Council-owned facilities, Waterworld and the Dunluce Centre in Portrush.

In 2008/2009 Coleraine Leisure Centre's deficit was 740,251 and in 2009/2010 the loss amounted to 621,784 - which equates to 11,957 each week or 1,703 a day.

In a recent bid to keep rates down, a decision was made to close the water slides in the swimming pool to reduce staff hours.

It is a general rule of thumb that in the majority of local authorities, leisure centres rarely make a huge profit because of the high running costs involved.

Councils also have a statutory responsibility to provide leisure and fitness facilities for the ratepayers of their districts.

However, the figures show that the tourist attractions of Waterworld and the Dunluce Centre are also running at a loss.

In 2008/2009 Waterworld lost 249,504 and a further 134,517 in 2009/2010.

The Dunluce Centre brought in a deficit of 156,289 in 2008/2009 and again in 2009/2010 recorded a loss of 107,822.

In a statement issued after the meeting, a Leisure Services spokesperson said: "Coleraine Borough Council would like to emphasise that the provision of Coleraine Leisure Centre is different to that of Waterworld and the Dunluce Centre.

"The latter are tourism related facilities and are designed as wet weather attractions for visitors to Portrush. Coleraine Leisure Centre is an all year round recreation facility designed to cater for and to improve the lifestyle and well being of residents of the Borough.

"Coleraine Borough Council is no different to other councils across Northern Ireland and has a statutory responsibility under the Youth and Recreation Order (1973) to provide leisure and recreation facilities for their residents.

"Council is also no different to other local government authorities in respect to having to subsidise their leisure facilities."