Decision on controversial plan to change Sovereign Centre scheme

By The Newsroom
Published 12th Jul 2018, 12:29 BST
Updated 17th Jul 2018, 18:43 BST
Artist's impression of the new Sovereign Centre design SUS-180507-140238001Artist's impression of the new Sovereign Centre design SUS-180507-140238001
Artist's impression of the new Sovereign Centre design SUS-180507-140238001
Council leaders have given the go ahead to update the designs of a new swimming and leisure centre on Eastbourne seafront '“ increasing its expected cost by almost £5m (writes Local Democracy Reporter Huw Oxburgh).

At a cabinet meeting on Wednesday (July 11), the leaders of Liberal Democrat-controlled Eastbourne Borough Council agreed to alter designs for a leisure complex intended to replace the Sovereign Centre in Royal Parade.

The cabinet had originally approved spending £24.2m on the project in 2016, with the new designs set to increase the expected cost to £29.1m.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The decision was opposed the council’s Conservative group, who asked cabinet members to delay the proposals to take a second look at a £12.5m refurbishment of the current centre instead.

Conservative councillor Robert Smart said: “What we see is another project with costs increasing and financed by ever-increasing debt, the size of which could cause issues perhaps.