Council leaders approve East Sussex leisure centre investment

On Monday (October 7), Rother District Council’s cabinet approved the use of £650,000 of Levelling Up Partnership (LUP) funds to ‘rejuvenate’ Rye Sports Centre.

The proposals were endorsed by Cllr Hazel Timpe, whose cabinet portfolio includes neighbourhood services and tourism.

Cllr Timpe said: “The funding will make a significant difference to the look and ambience of the site, thus encourage more sports club memberships, increase participation rates and improve health and wellbeing in the community.

“The council has been successful in receiving this grant funding and the resulting refurbished Rye Sports Centre will boost local economic growth and improve the centre’s sustainability over the longer term.

“This project is a win-win for both the community — which will benefit from a regenerated sports centre — and the sports centre operator, who will be able to attract more members.”

As a result of the decision, the council intends to appoint DMA Maintenance to manage the refurbishment project, as the Kent-based consultancy firm has already carried out survey works connected to the building.“

Cabinet members heard how the LUP funding must be allocated out of RDC accounts by no later than March 2025 or else be returned to the government. Due to this tight deadline, officers also asked cabinet members for authorisation to carry out all the “necessary steps” needed to complete the project.

Council leader Doug Oliver said: “This really is good news, because it wasn’t that long ago where we thought the whole lot was going to go down the plug.

“It really was a difficult time, a very difficult time, so I think to be able to rescue it like this, to create this, is a real plus factor. I think that everyone involved will acknowledge the fact they have brought this around.”