Dome may rise from ashes

9:40am Wednesday 9th April 2008

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One of the most deprived areas in Sussex may yet benefit from a community centre after a community association won more than £650,000 in a court battle against a builder.

Fishersgate Community Association (FCA) has won its dispute against builder Duncan Attwill, whose company CME Associates was contracted to build the ill-fated Fishersgate Dome.

The Dome, on the A259 coast road between Hove and Southwick, was damaged beyond repair in an arson attack in 2005 before it was ever fully opened.

In the aftermath Mr Attwill sued FCA claiming there were unpaid invoices, while the association put in a counter claim.

After a protracted battle Brighton County Court backed the charity, ordering the builder to pay £650,000 plus £75,000 in legal fees.

Peter Averillo, chairman of the association, said: "Hopefully if we do get that money, we'll ask the people of Fishersgate what they want as a proper community centre."

He said work could start within two years if things went according to plan.

Mr Averillo said: "What we are looking at is having some portable cabins in to get a community base up and running."

In the meantime, the association wants to reopen the roller skating rink on the site. Mr Averillo has written to Adur District Council, the site owners, to ask officers how they would like to proceed with the Dome.

Part of the original plan was a café for people to socialise and learn cooking and other skills. This is to be incorporated into a children's and healthy living centre at the redundant St Peter's Church in nearby Gardner Road in December.

FCA was given £217,000 towards the centre by the Big Lottery Fund in 2001. Some of the money was spent on the Dome with the council later using the remaining money to fund the centre at St Peter's.

A council spokeswoman said: "We are pleased that the Fishersgate Community Association has won its court case and wish it all the best.

"In our view the Fishersgate Dome should be demolished. We have been working with the Fishersgate Community group, Fishersgate Together and have been consulting with local people to find out what their needs are.

"We are working with West Sussex County Council, the primary care trust and others to provide a healthy living and children's centre at St Peter's Church.

"We are committed to the Fishersgate community and plan to continue working for its benefit."