Council to find new venue for non-profit group Defiant Sports after Fort Fun site controversy

Defiant Sports’ managing director Loretta Lock previously said the group felt it had been ‘used’ by the council after it was announced that Defiant Sports would no longer be involved with the site it had been clearing for the majority of 2023.

The organisation had been offered a joint five-year lease by Eastbourne Borough Council (EBC) last spring to develop part of the site into an accessible sports area for the community. EBC later said the decision to remove the organisation from the renovation plans was made because the council ‘had to identify the best way of getting the venue open and ready in the coming months’.

Following the news, the organisation said it was ‘at risk of folding’ after losing funding and not having a suitable venue. Now, the council has confirmed it is working with Mrs Lock to ‘best accommodate’ the organisation’s needs.

A joint statement from Mrs Lock and Councillor Stephen Holt, Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council, said: “We met this week to discuss various options for how the council can best accommodate the needs of Defiant Sports moving forward.

“The meeting was very positive and focused on finding solutions, both in the short and longer term.

“We have agreed that council officers, in close liaison with Defiant Sports, will explore opportunities across all the authority’s sporting and community facilities.

“We both feel encouraged that a suitable venue can be found and hope to share those details soon.”