South Somerset District Council (SSDC) has been forced to postpone a decision on whether to continue with its plans to create a new £28m sports complex in Yeovil until early January.

Proposals for the 1.25-hectare (3.09-acre) Sport Zone development at Yeovil Recreation Centre were due to be discussed by SSDC on 11 December, but the unexpected number of people in attendance resulted in the meeting being abandoned for health and safety reasons. The plans for the complex, which will now be discussed on 8 January, include an eight-lane, 50m swimming pool with moveable boom and floor, a combined 530sq m (5,704sq ft) leisure and learner pool, an eight-court sports hall and a four-court indoor tennis centre.

A 125-station fitness suite, a multi-purpose aerobics and dance studio and a climbing wall are also earmarked for the Sport Zone, as well as a full-sized synthetic turf pitch, health consultation rooms, a cafe, a creche and changing facilities. Sylvia Seal, SSDC's portfolio holder for leisure, culture and wellbeing, said: "There are some changes to the original proposals for the Sports Zone, which we feel will closer meet the needs of local people and match what they said they wanted, while also addressing the growing need for sports provision in the district.

"Many parts of the internal scheme – including the pool and indoor tennis courts – have been expanded. On the other hand, some areas have been changed according to feedback and local need, and some have been relocated to retain more outdoor playing space at Yeovil Recreation Centre." As a result of the abandoned meeting, SSDC has confirmed that a larger venue will be used on 8 January. The council's chief executive, Phil Dolan, said: "The Sport Zone item was considered at an earlier committee meeting in the chamber with just a handful of the public present.

"Had we been told that around 75 were likely to come then we could have made alternative arrangements. As it is, the council has had to abandon a meeting on safety grounds and the public have not had their voice heard."