Crucial Arun district leisure debate rescheduled

A CRUNCH meeting which will determine the future of the district’s leisure provisions has been rescheduled following last month’s asbestos scare at Arun District Council’s headquarters.
It may be empty now, but Aruns council chamber is expected to be packed for next months rescheduled debateIt may be empty now, but Aruns council chamber is expected to be packed for next months rescheduled debate
It may be empty now, but Aruns council chamber is expected to be packed for next months rescheduled debate

The full council meeting to discuss the draft leisure proposals, which could see radical alterations to the Littlehampton Swimming and Sports Centre’s location as well as changes to the existing Windmill Entertainment Centre site which consultants Colliers International has earmarked as a prime location for a possible hotel and a water play area, had been due to take place at the Arun Civic Centre, in Maltravers Road, Littlehampton, on March 20.

However, with less than 24 hours until the debate kicked off and with final preparation work still being carried out inside the council chamber, Arun took the decision to pull the meeting, following the discovery of a suspicious material inside the ageing centre – a material which tests later confirmed was not asbestos.

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The leisure debate, which will also see the 5,000-strong petition urging Arun to stump up cash to purchase new digital projectors for the now-closed cinema provision at the Windmill, will now take place over a series of meetings in May and July.

The first discussion will take place on Thursday, May 9, where Arun’s powerful full council will consider updated chapters of the emerging Local Plan.

Wednesday, May 15, the council will debate the draft leisure strategy and the Littlehampton Civic Society’s petition for new projectors.

Wednesday, May 29, will see councillors considering the Local Plan with all revisions and approve for the next round of public consultation, in June.

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Another meeting to discuss the St Modwen’s regeneration proposals, in Bognor, will take place on Wednesday, July 10, subject to approval at May 15’s debate.

Nigel Lynn, Arun’s chief executive, said: “We know people are anxious to know when these important issues will be discussed and decided.

“We have taken the opportunity to look at the timetable and have added in an extra meeting date to ensure there is the necessary time needed to properly address each issue rather than dealing with everything on one night.”