A developer has called on Brighton and Hove City Council “to stop dragging its feet” and to “make a decision” about the future of a leisure facility.

The King Alfred in Kingsway, Hove, dates back to before the Second World War and underwent a major redevelopment in 1983.

Campaigners for change claim the existing leisure centre is outdated and various suggestions for its future have been put forward to the city council over the past decade.

Rob Starr, project leader for The Lyrics - a proposed new arts and leisure hub that wants to redevelop the site - is one individual who has described the centre as “clearly not fit for purpose”.

Mr Starr said: “Certainly it is well supported by local residents, but I believe it is out of need and not out of want.

“Surely one would not choose to swim in such an outdated pool or be subjected to changing facilities that do not meet modern living desire.”

In an effort to convince the council that his team had the ability to modernise and revamp the ailing leisure centre, The Lyrics hired the King Alfred ballroom to set out their vision for what the new facility could be.

Mr Starr said his team wanted to deliver an all purpose venue with sports, arts, music, film and education all under one roof in a not-for-profit setting that would benefit the entire community.

But since then Mr Starr claims movement on the site's future has stalled.

He said: “The Lyrics team are ready right now to deliver this.”

Mr Starr is now calling on council officers to make a decision.

A spokeswoman at Brighton and Hove City Council said the council remained committed to embarking on the formal tendering process in the summer, 'broadly in line with the timetable talked about back in November last year'.

She added: “The project remains a high priority for the council and since the Developers Day we have been reviewing and considering the valuable feedback obtained from the day.

“Once the successful team is on-board, and following a short period to enable preparatory work, we will issue a further update on the timetable and next steps.”