Windmill For Sale

An advertisement offering the cinema/theatre for sale shocked members of the Windmill Action Group (WAG) and Littlehampton Town Council. Both claimed they had not been consulted properly over a marketing brief for potential buyers.

They were also surprised to read that selling the Windmill was the only option mentioned in the advertisement, as senior Arun officers and councillors had previously spoken of a range of possibilities for its future, such as partnerships with other organisations.

Littlehampton mayor Wendy Squires told the Gazette: "We were amazed to see the advertisement, with selling the Windmill off as the only option.

"The town council has not been consulted over this. We will do everything we can to make sure the Windmill stays there."

Mike Northeast, a town and Arun councillor, said: "Selling off the Windmill shows Arun wants to have nothing to do with it. What happens if a few years down the road, the buyer is losing money, closes it down and boards it up?

"We will have a derelict building on

the seafront and then someone will come along with a housing development there."

Former mayor Tony Squires pointed out the Windmill site was given to the people of Littlehampton by a former Duke of Norfolk. "It's not for Arun to sell it off. This is a disgrace."

Asked if the town council might bid for the Windmill, Mr Northeast replied: "We shouldn't have to. Who are we buying it from? It's ours"

Jackie Mallinson, chairman of WAG, said the group would be meeting to discuss the advertisement next week. It was too early to say if the group, made up of the drama, dance and music societies using the Windmill, would be making a bid.

John Stride, Arun's head of leisure services, said selling off the Windmill had always been a possibility, as part of a "best value" review Arun had carried out of its leisure facilities.

He stressed that points made by the town council and WAG at meetings earlier this year had been taken into account in drawing up the marketing brief, which made clear that community theatre and cinema use were key elements.

In the advertisement, potential buyers of the freehold or leasehold also have to demonstrate their proposed scheme's "ability to benefit the local community in economic, social and aesthetic terms, whilst maintaining a cinema and theatre at the site".

The closing date for bids is October 25.