Brand new Bexhill leisure centre project put on hold

Rother District Council has been advancing plans to redevelop the former Bexhill High School site in Down Road.

The scheme would have seen Bexhill Leisure Centre demolished and replaced with a larger, more modern facility, while new homes would be built on the northern part of the site.

However the plans have been re-evaluated due to the potential £15million rebuild cost and the financial uncertainty facing the council.

The Rother Alliance, the controlling group on the council, have proposed making smaller investments in the current site in order to keep it running.

The planned scheme would be retained for a future date, to be reviewed post-Covid when the council’s financial situation is more clear.

Doug Oliver, leader of the council and chair of the Bexhill Leisure Centre steering group, 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 £15million - 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.”

At a recent steering group meeting councillors discussed all the different options. On the table was either going ahead despite the financial risks, cancelling the project entirely, or leaving the current leisure centre to continue with no capital investment or investing big in refurbishing the existing site.

Rother Alliance members on the steering group proposed making smaller investments in the current centre and keeping the full rebuild option on the table in the future.

The recommendation will now go to cabinet where the final decision will be made.

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