New bid to buy Lion Street Centre

Rother Council’s planning committee met last week to discuss the application to demolish part of the site and build five new homes.

But they failed to approve the plans deciding instead to make a site inspection of Lion Street and to take a closer look at the Section 106 requirement for community use.

The decision is a slight set-back for Sussex South Coast College Hastings, who say they are losing money running the facility.

College governors were meeting to discuss the outcome of the planning meeting this week and say they will comment in due course.

And it emerged this week that a new bid to purchase the freehold of the site has been made by the Fletcher Theatre group and the church in Rye.

Rye Parochial Church Council propose to use the Adult Education Centre as a church hall and for Christian education purposes.

The Centre will also continue to be available for use by the Rye community in much the same way as it is now by a diverse range of organisations and areas of interest.

The Fletcher Theatre Group intend to use the Library and other buildings at the rear of the site to create a multi purpose Arts Centre encompassing a cinema, live music and drama performances conference facilities and incorporating bar and catering services.

Hugh Kermode, from the Fletcher Theatre group, said: “The historic Art Room will be retained and refurbished as this is an integral part of this important community asset. The establishment of a CIC (Community Interest Company) ensures that the assets acquired will remain in Community ownership.

“The offer has been made at this time to recognise the importance of establishing as early as possible a sustainable future for this important facility and in the light of the uncertainty facing SCCH in the light of the decision by Rother District Council Planning Committee not to approve the Section 106 Application in its current form.

“We believe that the offer made is realistic and appropriate taking into account the poor state of repair and the strong desire of the people of Rye for this type of solution as compared to the alternative that was envisaged.”

The Fletcher Group held a public exhibition of its plans at Lion Street on Monday which unveiled detailed architect’s plans for the first time.

Michael Eve, from the group, said: “It was very well attended and we has some very positive feed-back.”

The Grade 2 listed education centre was built in 1874 as a boarding school in gothic style.

It was bequeathed to Rye for educational use by the Meryon family and ran for may years by East Sussex County Council who then sold it to Hastings College for a token fee.

The College has said it wants to open a special Skills Centre in Rye, in the grounds of Rye College, with the money it gets from the sale of the site.

The College has said it will not be taking bookings for Lion Street after the end of January 2011.