‘No care’ for King Alfred (From The Argus)
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King Alfred neglected Hove MP claims
5:40pm Friday 26th October 2012 in News By Emily Walker, Chief Reporter
Brighton and Hove City council has been accused of neglecting its sports facilities.
More than six months after a special project group was set up to look into renovating the King Alfred leisure centre in Hove, the group has failed to even hold its first meeting.
Brighton and Hove City Council said that £40,000 had been put aside to support a cross-party project team to start looking at options for the King Alfred in April after a damning report condemned the city’s sports facilities.
But despite several rival entrepreneurs suggesting schemes to improve the dilapidated centre, no further action has begun.
Hove MP Mike Weatherley has accused the council of failing to take action.
He said: “For far too long the King Alfred has been left to rot, spoiling Hove’s beautiful seafront.”
Brighton and Hove’s sporting facilities were rated as “poor” by a council report in April.
The facilities rated far worse than other coast cities such as Portsmouth, Southampton, and Plymouth.
School or arts
Insurance company boss Rob Starr wants to knock down the current buildings and replace them with a performing arts centre.
The Russell Education Trust has put forward plans for a free Christian secondary school on the site.
Simon James has proposed building a temporary ice rink on land next to the King Alfred.
He suggested creating a 24mx48m skating area, around two-thirds of a full sized rink, for three years, in the hope it would protect the site from residential development and encourage any future permanent redevelopment would include an ice rink.
Brighton and Hove City Council’s city plan lists the site a “key” location for development and says the council wants 400 homes on the site, including shops, a café, a restaurant or community facilities.
At the council’s economic development and culture committee last week, chairman Geoffrey Bowden said that they had been looking at the site over the summer and hoped to organise a meeting of the King Alfred Project Board in the coming weeks.
A council spokeswoman said: “The council is committed to improving sport facilities within the city.
“A project board for the King Alfred has been set up. The first meeting will take place in the near future.”
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Comments(16)
rayellerton
says...
7:22pm Fri 26 Oct 12
rolivan
says...
7:53pm Fri 26 Oct 12
SnowyBrighton
says...
8:48pm Fri 26 Oct 12
rayellerton wrote:I don't get... The King Alfred development had been an issue for years, yet every time an idea gets put forward, the blue rinse brigade objects and it has to start from square one.
This Green council don't care a jot what residents want, all they care about are their loony pet projects...this city is going to the dogs under their dodgy stewardship...
HJarrs
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8:50pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Hovite
says...
9:20pm Fri 26 Oct 12
SnowyBrighton wrote:That's because the BHCC sporting development team run the show. It doesn't matter what party is in council they take instruction from them.
rayellerton wrote:I don't get... The King Alfred development had been an issue for years, yet every time an idea gets put forward, the blue rinse brigade objects and it has to start from square one.
This Green council don't care a jot what residents want, all they care about are their loony pet projects...this city is going to the dogs under their dodgy stewardship...
Whilst different councils come and go, the sports department always remain the same and it is them who have failed the city for over 15 years.
For anyone who remembers Yes Minister, this is the way it works.
Hovite
says...
9:23pm Fri 26 Oct 12
As soon as they change this brief everything would progress.
SmileyD
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9:51pm Fri 26 Oct 12
ourcoalition
says...
10:16pm Fri 26 Oct 12
As for the outside, a quick search on-line of the history will confirm the comment above, that neither Blue, Red, or Green Teams have succeeded in redevelopment, although the Reds came closest!
leobrighton
says...
10:20pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Hovite
says...
10:52pm Fri 26 Oct 12
ourcoalition wrote:Freedom have only been running the dump for the last year and a half.
When some of these posts attack the Sports Team in the Council for the internal facilities, they might want to bear in mind these are run by Freedom Leisure, NOT the Council. A wonderful example of failed privatisation, not failed public sector!!!
As for the outside, a quick search on-line of the history will confirm the comment above, that neither Blue, Red, or Green Teams have succeeded in redevelopment, although the Reds came closest!
Who do you think has been advising the various councils over the last 15 years, on the failed BIA and Gehry projects?
Why did these fail?
Because the developers who promised the projects couldn't find investors.
Why couldn't they get investment?
Because both schemes were flawed.
Hoarder12345444
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11:10pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Morpheus
says...
10:49am Sat 27 Oct 12
ourcoalition wrote:It is a failed public sector. You miss the point that the facilities are owned by the council; the private company just operates them according to council instructions. Go to a private facility such as David Lloyd and you will see the difference between private and public immediately.
When some of these posts attack the Sports Team in the Council for the internal facilities, they might want to bear in mind these are run by Freedom Leisure, NOT the Council. A wonderful example of failed privatisation, not failed public sector!!!
As for the outside, a quick search on-line of the history will confirm the comment above, that neither Blue, Red, or Green Teams have succeeded in redevelopment, although the Reds came closest!
Hove Actually
says...
3:58pm Sat 27 Oct 12
If there had been a cycle lane or parking meter here they would have been all over it like a Green Rash, sad to say neither apply so sweet FA needed here by "our" tax collectors
ourcoalition
says...
11:09pm Sat 27 Oct 12
Morpheus wrote:The building is owned by the Council - there are minimum things the Council wants as part of the contract, but the rest is down to the contractor, who is out to make a profit on its investment.
ourcoalition wrote:It is a failed public sector. You miss the point that the facilities are owned by the council; the private company just operates them according to council instructions. Go to a private facility such as David Lloyd and you will see the difference between private and public immediately.
When some of these posts attack the Sports Team in the Council for the internal facilities, they might want to bear in mind these are run by Freedom Leisure, NOT the Council. A wonderful example of failed privatisation, not failed public sector!!!
As for the outside, a quick search on-line of the history will confirm the comment above, that neither Blue, Red, or Green Teams have succeeded in redevelopment, although the Reds came closest!
Tring
says...
11:24pm Sun 28 Oct 12
Morpheus: I am not rich enough to go to the David Lloyd, but I believe they charge at least double what the 'failed public sector' do, which might have something to do with the better state of the facilities, perhaps.
lillylou says...
6:46pm Fri 26 Oct 12