Council approves £650k leisure centre refurbishment

Plans to invest £650,000 in a leisure facility in Rye to make it "fit for purpose" have been approved by council leaders.

Rother District Council’s plans to rejuvenate Rye Sports Centre, in The Grove, will be funded using a Levelling Up Partnership (LUP) allocation.

The centre already has a gym with cardio vascular and resistance equipment, an exercise studio, a sports hall and a 25m pool.

Councillor Hazel Timpe said the funding will "encourage more sports club memberships, increase participation rates and improve health and wellbeing in the community”.

A survey of the site has found improvements are needed to facilities and services, and the funding will be used to improve the fabric of the building.

The council said: "This project is a win-win for both the community, which will benefit from a regenerated sports centre, and the sports centre operator, who will be able to attract more members."

Cabinet members heard how the LUP funding must be allocated no later than March 2025 or be returned to the government.

Due to the deadline, officers also asked cabinet members for authorisation to carry out all the “necessary steps” needed to complete the project, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

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.”

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