King Alfred centre to lose its slides

The man in charge of the future of the King Alfred site has said the leisure centre's flumes will be removed as part of a £1.5 million emergency repair package.

Ted Kemble, cabinet member for major projects, made the revelation during The Argus's Friday Inquisition.

Councillor Kemble also said that while the council was looking for land for a new primary school in the area, the city's planning blueprint ruled the Hove seafront site out of the equation.

Urgent repairs to the centre were agreed by Brighton and Hove City Council's cabinet on Tuesday.

The £1.5 million investment is needed to ensure the ageing facility meets basic health and safety standards while a long-term plan is devised.

Last weekend the £290 million redevelopment of the King Alfred centre, designed by Frank Gehry, was definitively ruled out.

This followed the withdrawal of the financial backer, Dutch bank ING, in July.

Coun Kemble said: "Planning consent for the King Alfred site exists for a first-class leisure centre with an enabling development of 750 housing units.

"My understanding of the local plan is that the site is not available for development as a primary school.

"Part of the £1.5 million expenditure will be used on urgent health and safety issues.

"The result of this will be the demolition and removal of the flumes."

Comments(14)

NoWaySeriously says...
1:11pm Sun 23 Nov 08

ummm, ok. Why not just do them up/replace them? Is this not a step BACKWARDS?

Glenda says...
1:20pm Sun 23 Nov 08

My understanding was that the 751 flats did not comform with the Local Plan. So the Council could use a precedent and ignore it again.

Mr Kemble gave misinformation about 50metre pools as well. He stated that The Sports Council dictates where 50metre pools are located. This is not the case. He is confused with the fact that they do not give funding (around 10%) to all projects.

You would think our councillors would be more informed. Especially on a topic that has been debated for a decade.

Arther Daley says...
2:21pm Sun 23 Nov 08

The slides have had thier day, time to move on, after all, not exactly Aquaworld, Spain is it?

disrember says...
4:13pm Sun 23 Nov 08

so the 4 slides that havent been open for 12 years will be removed...

or is the one indoor slide is going to be removed.

Mary Hinge says...
8:00pm Sun 23 Nov 08

See what happens when you put a taxi driver in charge of "major projects" for the council...

minimee says...
8:32pm Sun 23 Nov 08

Glenda wrote:
My understanding was that the 751 flats did not comform with the Local Plan. So the Council could use a precedent and ignore it again.

Mr Kemble gave misinformation about 50metre pools as well. He stated that The Sports Council dictates where 50metre pools are located. This is not the case. He is confused with the fact that they do not give funding (around 10%) to all projects.

You would think our councillors would be more informed. Especially on a topic that has been debated for a decade.
exactly-they do not seem to be applying for any grants even the goverment 150 mil for free swimming for the over 60's.they are not even going to fix the slide inside or get out a can of paint.there will not be a public consultation until they come up with a plan and they seem keen to stick with the 750 flats and demolition.

NoWaySeriously says...
8:34pm Sun 23 Nov 08

Arther Daley wrote:
The slides have had thier day, time to move on, after all, not exactly Aquaworld, Spain is it?
...but it COULD be, given the right funding...

and how cool would that be, to have something to be proud of? the council are crap. they need to listen to the people for ONCE!

davyboy says...
7:55am Mon 24 Nov 08

NoWaySeriously wrote:
Arther Daley wrote:
The slides have had thier day, time to move on, after all, not exactly Aquaworld, Spain is it?
...but it COULD be, given the right funding...

and how cool would that be, to have something to be proud of? the council are crap. they need to listen to the people for ONCE!
you will never get anything to be proud of. i will say again that a city(?) the size of brighton should have a PROPER leisure centre, on the outskirts of town, with adequate parking and public transport. hey, i have an idea!!!! what about waterhall! plenty of space for inside and outdoor facilities, and a station and large car park. can the councillors PLEASE take a look at the triangle at burgess hill, and get some idea of what is required in brighton. you have to start thinking about this as a matter of urgency. yes, i know i am fron outside the area, but i am a regular visitor, and know what i would like to see.

NoWaySeriously says...
9:13am Mon 24 Nov 08

davyboy wrote:
NoWaySeriously wrote:
Arther Daley wrote:
The slides have had thier day, time to move on, after all, not exactly Aquaworld, Spain is it?
...but it COULD be, given the right funding...

and how cool would that be, to have something to be proud of? the council are crap. they need to listen to the people for ONCE!
you will never get anything to be proud of. i will say again that a city(?) the size of brighton should have a PROPER leisure centre, on the outskirts of town, with adequate parking and public transport. hey, i have an idea!!!! what about waterhall! plenty of space for inside and outdoor facilities, and a station and large car park. can the councillors PLEASE take a look at the triangle at burgess hill, and get some idea of what is required in brighton. you have to start thinking about this as a matter of urgency. yes, i know i am fron outside the area, but i am a regular visitor, and know what i would like to see.
the TRIANGLE?!!!1!!! aahahahahahahahaa!!!
!

davyboy says...
11:10am Mon 24 Nov 08

NoWaySeriously wrote:
davyboy wrote:
NoWaySeriously wrote:
Arther Daley wrote:
The slides have had thier day, time to move on, after all, not exactly Aquaworld, Spain is it?
...but it COULD be, given the right funding...

and how cool would that be, to have something to be proud of? the council are crap. they need to listen to the people for ONCE!
you will never get anything to be proud of. i will say again that a city(?) the size of brighton should have a PROPER leisure centre, on the outskirts of town, with adequate parking and public transport. hey, i have an idea!!!! what about waterhall! plenty of space for inside and outdoor facilities, and a station and large car park. can the councillors PLEASE take a look at the triangle at burgess hill, and get some idea of what is required in brighton. you have to start thinking about this as a matter of urgency. yes, i know i am fron outside the area, but i am a regular visitor, and know what i would like to see.
the TRIANGLE?!!!1!!! aahahahahahahahaa!!!

!
the triangle is a **** sight better than ANYTHING brighton, hove or worthing can offer, so i go there when i am in brighton. at least it has a leisure pool, proper pool, tennis,(indoor & outdoor), squash, gym, cafe, and free parking. show me all that in brighton, (in one place) and i will go there!!!!!

NoWaySeriously says...
12:49pm Mon 24 Nov 08

davyboy wrote:
NoWaySeriously wrote:
davyboy wrote:
NoWaySeriously wrote:
Arther Daley wrote:
The slides have had thier day, time to move on, after all, not exactly Aquaworld, Spain is it?
...but it COULD be, given the right funding...

and how cool would that be, to have something to be proud of? the council are crap. they need to listen to the people for ONCE!
you will never get anything to be proud of. i will say again that a city(?) the size of brighton should have a PROPER leisure centre, on the outskirts of town, with adequate parking and public transport. hey, i have an idea!!!! what about waterhall! plenty of space for inside and outdoor facilities, and a station and large car park. can the councillors PLEASE take a look at the triangle at burgess hill, and get some idea of what is required in brighton. you have to start thinking about this as a matter of urgency. yes, i know i am fron outside the area, but i am a regular visitor, and know what i would like to see.
the TRIANGLE?!!!1!!! aahahahahahahahaa!!!


!
the triangle is a **** sight better than ANYTHING brighton, hove or worthing can offer, so i go there when i am in brighton. at least it has a leisure pool, proper pool, tennis,(indoor & outdoor), squash, gym, cafe, and free parking. show me all that in brighton, (in one place) and i will go there!!!!!
...this is point. we WANT a place like that, but better than the freakin' triangle!

Wiggsy says...
1:55pm Mon 24 Nov 08

Coun Kemble said: "Planning consent for the King Alfred site exists for a first-class leisure centre with an enabling development of 750 housing units"

It won't be a first class leisure centre if the 750 'housing units' are still part of the plans.

Is it honestly too much to ask to make this solely a sporting complex.

NoWaySeriously says...
4:05pm Mon 24 Nov 08

Wiggsy wrote:
Coun Kemble said: "Planning consent for the King Alfred site exists for a first-class leisure centre with an enabling development of 750 housing units"

It won't be a first class leisure centre if the 750 'housing units' are still part of the plans.

Is it honestly too much to ask to make this solely a sporting complex.
Yes, it IS too much to ask. Especially if you've taken a back-hander, which is all part of being a planning officer, right? Right? Seriously?

Made In Sussex says...
4:15pm Mon 24 Nov 08

This is definatley a step back, I have happy memories of visiting the KA and riding the flumes about 20+ years ago, sad that they are to be gone and not replaced.

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