Plans to build fully accessible sports centre

An Eastbourne community hub is appealing for people to get behind plans to build East Sussex's first fully accessible sports centre.

Defiant Sports, based at Archery Recreation Grounds in Willoughby Crescent, supports disabled people to play sports.

Managing Director Loretta Locke says this proposed building will have a four-court sports hall, equipment storage, office space, therapy room, disability support coaches and staff, dance and fitness studio, and changing place facility and toilets.

She hopes people will write to express support for the new centre, which will be located next to the charity's headquarters.

Ms Locke adds they hope to gather sufficient support letters by March before submitting a planning permission application to Eastbourne Borough Council.

She said: "At the moment, there is very little available sport facilities in the local area so we hope this new centre will provide people access to a low-cost and top-quality service.

"The more support we get for this project, the easier it'll be to get funding and make it a reality."

She says the hub need £400,000 to set up the centre, and they will also apply for funding through organisations including the National Lottery Community Fund, National Lottery Heritage Fund and Sport England.

Defiant Sports currently serves more than 2,500 people a month.

The hub was formerly based in Sovereign Harbour Retail Park before signing a 25-year lease with Eastbourne Borough Council in March 2024 to move to its current location.

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