The King Alfred sports complex will remain open for as long as possible before a replacement is built, councillors have been told.
Labour councillor Alan Robins, the Brighton and Hove City Council’s cabinet member for sports and recreation, said that £52,000 had been included in the budget for the coming year to maintain the existing building.
At a meeting of the cabinet at Hove Town Hall on Thursday (13 February), Councillor Robins said that the council was determined to make progress with a replacement for the King Alfred Leisure Centre’s.
Last month, he announced that a firm called Alliance Leisure had been appointed to lead the project to design and build a new swimming pool and leisure centre on the seafront site.
He said: “Shovels in the ground in 2026 and toes in the water in 2028.”
Another swimming pool is expected to be built at the Withdean Sports Complex and Councillor Robins said that he hoped that it would open in the autumn next year.
He also hinted at plans for changes at Portslade Sports Centre.
Councillor Robins said: “We’re extending the Portslade gym which I’m not allowed to talk about because it’s not finalised yet – so if anybody asks, I never said anything.”
The sense of impending doom is growing by the day.
A Council who brought you the i360 and who cannot even construct fit-for-purpose paddling pools capable of staying open throughout the summer is being trusted to replace the largest and best used wet and dry sports centre in the South East?
Now they will not even commit to keeping the current King Alfred open until the replacement is built as they previously promised.
Plus they have apparently appointed a contractor without a design competition/tendering process or showing any plans or artists impressions to the electorate.
What could possibly go wrong?
With your history, you would have likely complained with either decision, so what is the answer?
I live opposite the king Alfed and have done so for 35 years I do NOT trus this council one bit and half of them have never set foot in there or walked along this beautiful sea front they need to be honest and far and up front with everything to gain trust and respect! I hope and will try to gather as many local people as possible to march and oppose anything that we find is detrimental to our area veiws and not in keeping with the area!
That’s what the planning portal is for, yes.