Blueprint for better swimming centre approved by Arun

Last Wednesday (May 15), councillors approved the district’s draft leisure strategy, which looks set to usher in Arun’s blueprint for sporting, leisure and cultural opportunities across the area.

It includes plans to completely revamp the Littlehampton Swimming and Sports Centre, the first stage of which will see the current site having up to £350,000 pumped into it to modernise the facilities for the next eight years.

The second stage of the proposals will see the existing swimming centre demolished and replaced with a new, larger design that is promised to offer vastly improved facilities.

However, the location of this new centre is yet to be finalised – council leader Gill Brown assured people that the current facilities would not be demolished until the new building had been completed and opened.

She added that a full financial viability study would be undertaken to compare the prospects of erecting a new centre on the existing site or one elsewhere in the town.

‘A complete u-turn’

Councillor Dr James Walsh described the decision as a “wholly welcome” one, saying: “This is, of course, a complete u-turn as to what was proposed at the cabinet and I really do welcome it, genuinely, because it’s exactly what we have been asking for, which is to have a full feasibility study on either replacing the Littlehampton Swimming and Sports Centre – that’s the pool and the dome – on the current site, which is what the majority of people – 66 per cent right across the Arun district – wanted, that’s the swimming and sports centre to stay where it is.

“In east Arun, east of the river, that went up to 76 per cent.

“You cannot ignore in a public consultation that huge public demand, so I’m grateful to the council leader for listening to that and looking at both the options.”

Further plans to enhance Littlehampton’s seafront and riverside were also agreed.

They include proposals to provide either a hotel, new cinema or restaurant complex on either St Martin’s car park, the Windmill Entertainment Centre site, or elsewhere in the town.

Arun will also be working on a range of proposals to gradually upgrade Littlehampton’s seaside promenade and green spaces, as well as attempting to provide a fit space for amateur dramatics to continue, after 2016 – which could remain at the Windmill or in a new, purpose-built site.

Councillors also agreed to work with West Sussex County Council in an effort to improve cycle paths to make the district more “cycling friendly” right across the district, as well as approving moves to improve Arundel’s streetscape, and working with the historic town’s community to develop its programme of festivals and Christmas events.