Plans to invest more than half a million pounds in Rye Sports Centre have been given the go ahead by Rother council leaders.
In a significant step towards securing the future of the building, on Monday October 7 Rother District Council’s cabinet approved the use of £650,000 of Levelling Up Partnership (LUP) funds to ‘rejuvenate’ the leisure centre and swimming pool.
The proposals were described as a win-win for the local community by Cllr Hazel Timpe, whose cabinet portfolio includes neighbourhood services and tourism. “The funding will make a significant difference to the look and ambience of the site, thus encourage more sports club memberships, increase participation rates and improve health and wellbeing in the community. The council has been successful in receiving this grant funding and the resulting refurbished Rye sports centre will boost local economic growth and improve the centre’s sustainability over the longer term."
As a result of the decision, the council intends to appoint DMA Maintenance to manage the refurbishment project, as the Kent-based consultancy firm has already carried out survey works connected to the building.
Cabinet members heard how the LUP funding must be allocated out of RDC accounts by no later than March 2025 or else be returned to the government. Due to this tight deadline, officers also asked cabinet members for authorisation to carry out all the “necessary steps” needed to complete the project.
Council leader Doug Oliver said: “This really is good news, because it wasn’t that long ago where we thought the whole lot was going to go down the plug. It really was a difficult time, a very difficult time, so I think to be able to rescue it like this, to create this, is a real plus factor. I think that everyone involved will acknowledge the fact they have brought this around.”
Meanwhile negotiations continue on the future running of the centre. Rye Recreation and Wellbeing CIO hopes to take over as operator with Rye Town Council taking on a twenty year lease in 2025.
Read more about the plans for Rye Leisure Centre here.
