Hove resident draws up King Alfred plans

12:08pm Monday 30th November 2009 in News By Andy Chiles

NEW LOOK: Simon James's concept NEW LOOK: Simon James's concept

A resident has drawn up his own blueprint for the King Alfred Leisure Centre redevelopment plans.

Simon James, who hopes to win backing from a developer, has proposed Brighton and Hove City Council should build a new sports arena, including an ice rink and swimming pool.

He unveiled the scheme after Mike Weatherley, who will stand for the Conservatives in Hove at the next general election, distributed leaflets asking residents for their ideas for the site in Kingsway, Hove.

He created a video of his vision on his website www.01273.info and has delivered flyers around the area to try to gather support.

Mr James, who grew up and lives in Brighton, believed his idea was more in line with what people wanted than the scrapped £250 million complex of residential tower blocks and a sports centre designed by Frank Gehry.

Mr James said: “Obviously my design is about the space and layout of the facilities rather than its facade, which I hope viewers of the animation will understand, but with creative minds and architects it could be made to look really nice.”

After a favourable response from Mr Weatherley he has now pitched the idea to council leader Mary Mears and cabinet members David Smith and Ted Kemble.

They have yet to formally respond.

Councillor Kemble, cabinet member for major projects, said there had been renewed interest in the King Alfred site and several developers had held talks with the council but he refused to disclose any details.

The council has recently spent around £3 million to revamp the existing facilities.

Coun Kemble said it was unlikely to be developed for at least three or four years.

Comments(13)

censored says...
1:19pm Mon 30 Nov 09

And with no housing on the site, and an arena in direct competition with the Brighton Centre, it has no hope of funding itself and therefore no hope of being built.

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Bennn says...
1:38pm Mon 30 Nov 09

Good on him. A resident actually doing more than the Council.

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minimee says...
2:11pm Mon 30 Nov 09

Please -no more towers-no more shoebox flats either.

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worthinglogic says...
4:19pm Mon 30 Nov 09

That's great. Although don't know what the developers at Black Rock would have to say about it. Funny if we ended up with two ice-rinks a mile down the road from each other haha

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Christophe Hawtree says...
4:29pm Mon 30 Nov 09

What are the Gehry towers doing in the picture?

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Christophe Hawtree says...
4:29pm Mon 30 Nov 09

What are the Gehry towers doing in the picture?

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clearbluesky says...
4:47pm Mon 30 Nov 09

Good on Mr James and good on Mr Weatherley for his role too. This is exactly the kind of localism that could transform this city.

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Thumper Hove says...
5:04pm Mon 30 Nov 09

Nice idea, will never happen, unless Mr James is a millionaire willing to donate the money. Another 'non-story' otherwise.

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abi :) says...
5:49pm Mon 30 Nov 09

What a great idea! - and its great that the local people have been asked to come up with what they would like to see on the site. It's about time we had our say on what we want in our city- and an ice rink is clearly what everyone desperately needs! 1150 people now on the bring back sussex ice rink facebook campaigne- lets hope they can get the funding! we deserve to get our ice rink back!

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Christophe Hawtree says...
6:38pm Mon 30 Nov 09

There is also demand for the ten-pin bowling.

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TheInsider says...
11:00pm Mon 30 Nov 09

I would like a sports centre on the land which is owned by the people of this town.
I don't want the land handed to a developer to put flats on it under the guise of 'funding' a sports centre.
The council will just fritter the money away on paying off people in the council it doesn't want to work with.
The council cannot be trusted.
Still the Tories have not explained Alan McCarthy's departure at our cost.

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bug eye says...
11:47pm Mon 30 Nov 09

I do not recall getting a leaflet through the door asking for ideas, as I have often thought it would be a good location for a Hove 'tate modern' or hove 'conference centre' or hove 'sealife' or the brighton O when it moves, any of which could go alongside mr. james's excellent presentation. cafes and retail could add to the feasibility of actually building this, and it is well recongnised that this city needs no more boxy flats.

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roughsea says...
10:50am Tue 1 Dec 09

Looks great. Olympic sized pool and outside access for dining and relaxation is a must. Ten pin bowling is available in the marina, Tate Modern! space for more inferior 'art', no way.

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