Pavilion plans scaled down

ELEMENTS of the proposed De La Warr Pavilion redevelopment scheme have had to be shelved due to a funding shortfall.

The South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) has pulled the plug on a possible 1.9m grant so Rother District Council has had to re-think the scope of the work.

The initial 8.83m scheme has been re-specified and re-tendered to a cost of 6.8m.

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While most of the work will begin as soon as a suitable contractor is selected, some elements like the planned improvements to the car park and surrounding landscape will not go ahead until new funds are in place.

The proposed new Community Room, which had been identified as an item which could possibly be 'deferred,' will go ahead as planned, the De La Warr insisted this week.

SEEDA initially indicated it was keen to fund the project but has since gone off the idea because it does not fit its agenda of economic regeneration.

Task Force director John Shaw was unavailable to comment on the decision this week.

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The bulk of the money has come from two major grants amounting to 6m from the Arts Council of England and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The De La Warr Trust has already raised 240,000 and is hopeful of a further 200,000 from English Heritage.

But so far tenders from builders have come in well over budget and, as previously reported, the Pavilion has been forced to close from December 14 due to the delay in awarding a contract. It is hoped major works will start early next year

The council is also cutting costs by using cheaper building materials and fittings where possible.

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The project will involve repairing the decaying structure of the building, replacing widows, creating a new art gallery and upgrading the existing one, refurbishing and extending the catering facilities, improving the use of bars and providing new office accommodation, as well as the exterior landscaping and community room.

Rother chief executive Derek Stevens said: "It's disappointing that SEEDA has decided not to come forward with the grant but that will not delay the work any more than it has been already.

"We will go ahead as soon as we can but, as has always been a possibility, some of the work will have to be phased. There are other irons in the fire as far as funding is concerned."

The district council is carrying out the refurbishment before handing control over to the De La Warr Pavilion Trust.

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De La Warr director Alan Haydon said: "In order that construction work can commence without further delay we will phase the programme in parallel to funds we have secured.

"As a result, the refurbishment will go ahead as planned although some elements will not be undertaken until funds are in place and a broader scheme for the seafront is decided upon."

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