Time for bravery

As the Arun District Council cabinet member responsible for leisure, it is precisely my duty to manage my portfolio, which includes leisure and sports provision.

Consultants have reported to me, as well as to the leisure, tourism and infrastructure working party on the limited life and catchment area of the existing facility,

Leisure is a discretionary service and Arun’s available money for provision at best will stay static and in reality, due to cuts in grant funding from central government, will decline as a percentage of the budget, which means if we don’t make brave decisions, we could end up without a publicly funded centre in ten years’ time,

That is why it is so important to provide a financially sustainable centre fit for the future. The existing centre costs will start to spiral in five to ten years’ time, bearing in mind the 32-year-old infrastructure will mean higher cost maintenance and increased fuel costs, which is one of the biggest overheads for a leisure centre.

A new centre with 21st century services at the crossroads of the A259 and the new Lyminster bypass/A284 will mean that it will be beside north to south and east to west bus services. It will be closer to more residents and have a much bigger catchment area, which will be able to serve residents in most parts of Littlehampton, as well as surrounding areas.

It will allow us to build a new centre while keeping the old one open to provide a seamless service and any development on the old site could be part of Mewsbrook Park, which would be low rise and high value, which would fit well in the current seafront. Any money received will be a fraction of the cost of a new centre, which will be funded by the savings in running costs of the old centre and we would receive it only after we had built a new one.

As an elected member, I represent all of the district’s residents. The current centre and any possible new centre is paid for by all the taxpayers of Arun district, not just a select few who live near to the current Littlehampton Swimming and Sports Centre,

Mrs Matthews makes the point that I should do what councillors have decided – that is precisely what I am doing.

I know older users think they have a perfect centre, but I am thinking of the many who can’t get to the current centre and want to have affordable leisure provision for the next 40 years, not just the next ten years.

Councillor Paul Dendle, Arun District Council cabinet member for leisure

Burpham

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