New cash for rundown leisure site

The King Alfred Centre needs urgent work if it is to remain open

A dilapidated sports and leisure centre on Hove seafront is to have hundreds of thousands of pounds more spent on it.

Brighton and Hove City Council is to spend £750,000 on improvements for the King Alfred Leisure Centre.

The figure is in addition to £859,000 already set aside for essential repairs to the building, which was to have been pulled down and redeveloped.

Plans to build two towers, designed by architect Frank Gehry, on the site were scrapped last November.

Council officials have stressed the money will not provide a long-term solution and that new facilities are the ultimate aim.

The funding is intended to cover a period of three to five years.

'Operational building'

Plans for the site, which was built in 1938, include exterior improvements and signs to make it more obvious the building is open, an improved fitness gym, internal redecoration, and better sports equipment.

However, a report to the council's cabinet which lists the possible options for funding admits the cash would not cover them all.

A council spokesman said: "Investing some money in the existing building would help bring in more customers and revenue to support the operation.

"As one of our biggest facilities it's very important to the health and wellbeing of the city that we keep the building operational."

Plans to redevelop the site with a new sports centre, flats, restaurants and cafes collapsed when investors pulled out due to the credit crunch.