Decision due on Bexhill Leisure Centre project

On Monday (July 27), Rother District Council’s cabinet is set to consider recommendations to formally suspend plans to replace Bexhill Leisure Centre with a larger, more modern facility.

The leisure centre project, which had been expected to cost as much as £15m, had formed part of the wider redevelopment of the former Bexhill High School site in Down Road.

The recommendation to suspend the project comes from a council steering group, which met in a private session last month.

It recommended the council should not rebuild or carry out a major refurbishment of the centre and instead undertake a more modest programme of refurbishment.

Speaking at the time, council leader and steering group chairman Cllr Doug Oliver said: “This was absolutely the right decision. It shows a clear and continued commitment to provide leisure facilities on the site whilst taking great care not to aggressively pursue a new build that would cost upwards of £15m – money that the council would have to borrow or take from reserves during a period of great uncertainty.

“A brand new leisure centre is worth pursuing when we reach a more financially stable time, but right now we must prioritise our financial situation so that we can continue to provide services and keep the district running.

“Now is not the time for risky investments and it is important for this administration that we continue to provide good leisure services to meet residents’ needs and to do so responsibly, within our means.”

While the leisure centre redevelopment is set to be put on hold, the meeting is also expected to see cabinet confirm the wider housing development scheme will continue, eventually leading to a reserved matters planning application.

As part of this, cabinet are recommended to agree that land acquisitions and Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) “be progressed where necessary”.

As well as the development plans, cabinet is also set to make a decision on what financial support the council provides to its leisure contractor Freedom Leisure.

Details of the funding package are confidential, however the decision was previously taken was to provide Freedom Leisure with up to £38,000 per month during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Freedom Leisure has since notified the council that they expect to reopen on July 25, following the lifting of some lockdown measures. However, Freedom Leisure say remaining restrictions are expected to continue affecting its income in the short to medium term.

Cabinet members are also set to agree that the council moves to procure a new leisure centre service from March 2021 to March 2024.

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