Last year the centre attracted 780,000 visitors

The attraction will close for two weeks in November to allow council officers time to assess what repairs and maintenance are needed.

Swansea Council has set aside �1.25m to cover costs but cabinet member for leisure Robert Francis-Davies admits no-one knows how much could be needed.

Opened by the Queen in 1977, its swimming pool with wave machine and hydro-slide has been a big draw for thousands of children and their families ever since.

At the moment we do not know what we are going to find Robert Francis-Davies

The gym, squash courts, indoor sports arenas and health club facilities are also well used.

Mr Francis-Davies told BBC News Online: "Swansea Leisure Centre has been a major attraction for almost 30 years.

"During that time there have been many changes to requirements and legislation for public buildings.

'Close it permanently'

"We will be closing the building to carry out an in-depth condition survey to establish if any modifications are required.

"We are aware there is a lot of work to bring it up to date."

Mr Francis-Davies said some of the electrical wiring may need upgrading and the swimming pool was also a cause for concern.

"At the moment we do not know what we are going to find."

Swansea councillor and Liberal Democrat AM for South Wales West, Peter Black, said he was worried for the future of the centre which last year attracted 780,000 visitors.

"So far we have only been told that it is to close for structural surveys but other evidence points to plans for a longer term closure.

"If substantial refurbishment is required as the council has said, then we need to know how much this will cost and how it will be paid for.

"Are they intending to close it permanently, re-build it or seek to refurbish it?

"Has this 30-year-old centre got a future in the city? Thousands of local people who use it regularly want an answer to these questions."

But Mr Francis-Davies said Mr Black was trying to make political capital out of the issue.

'Build a new one'

He said the council spent more on leisure and recreation than almost any other authority in Wales with an annual budget of �40m.

"It's reasonable to say that some sections may be closed down while work is carried out," he added.

"I was asked what would happen if �8m needed to be spent on it.

"We would to everything we could to make sure we have the money to put it back into first-class condition.

"It may be that the cost of repair would mean it would make more sense to build a new one but at this stage that is just speculation."

Centre staff are reviewing existing programmes to try to accommodate customers and classes at other venues during the two week survey.