THE Government minister for sport was given a guided tour of an ageing leisure centre, currently the focus of redevelopment talks.

Sajid Javid MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, was shown around Hove’s King Alfred Leisure Centre by City Councillor Graham Cox. He said: “He could clearly see the current building is on its last legs and he acknowledged our city deserves decent facilities.

Current Hove MP Mike Weatherley is pushing for the building to have a 50m Olympic sized swimming pool and has presented a petition to the council.

Councillor Geoffrey Bowden, chairman of the economic development and culture committee, also met the minister.