By Huw Oxburgh, BBC-funded Local Democracy Reporter
The leader of Eastbourne Borough Council has committed to making no “irreversible changes” to swimming pools at a leisure centre ahead of further investigations into its future.
The commitment was made at a full council meeting last night (November 20), in response to a motion submitted by Conservative councillor Kshama Shore.
It called on Cabinet members to “explore all options to keep all the facilities at the Sovereign Leisure Centre open.”
Cllr Shore’s motion came a week after the council’s cabinet agreed savings proposals, which included the closure of two of the Sovereign Centre’s three swimming pools ahead of its planned transfer to Wave Leisure next year.
Cllr Shore argued the closure of the pools would both threaten the centre’s viability and have a detrimental impact on the town’s residents.
She said: “What you are proposing is to reduce the number of pools available while protecting swimming lessons, school swimming and structured sessions such as lane swimming — I can’t believe that can actually be possible.
“Yesterday, the papers reported that a thousand members’ lessons will most likely be cancelled. This, coupled with the closure of the cafe, amounts to a wilful and systematic dismantling of the facilities.
“Maybe that is what you want to do. Perhaps you have grander ideas for using that prime site for something else; who knows?”
Cllr Shore went on to criticise the level of detail around the Sovereign Centre’s planned transfer to Wave Leisure, while arguing that more consideration should have been given to alternative options.
“The Sovereign Centre represents more than just a budget line — it’s part of the
Cllr Kshama shore (con)
fabric of our town”
Councillors then considered two potential amendments. The first, from Liberal Democrat council leader Stephen Holt, instead asked the council’s scrutiny committee to “explore all further options to keep the existing facilities of the Sovereign Leisure Centre open”.
Cllr Holt argued the scrutiny committee (chaired by Cllr Shore) would be the most appropriate forum to discuss alternative proposals and said the council would not carry out any “irreversible changes” until the committee met.
He said: “The decision to change the provision of swimming at the Sovereign Centre is one that we have made with a heavy heart. Like those here today and who have written, I have fond memories myself of using the pools at the Sovereign Centre when I was a child.
“Since 2006, with the exception of a few years, Eastbourne Borough Council has supported the Sovereign Centre on average by circa £300,000 a year. These costs due to utilities, chemicals and staffing have only increased.
“In recent years we have also invested just under £2.5 million in ensuring the Sovereign Centre stays open and operational by increasing our level of borrowing, or what our detractors call debt. I might add that without our borrowing, it is likely that the Sovereign Centre would have had to close a long time ago.
“However, we have had to make this momentous decision in light of the significant financial challenges that the council faces and the legal need to ensure that we end this year with a balanced budget.”
The second amendment tabled by Conservative group leader Robert Smart maintained the original motion’s wording, but added calls for the council to market the Sovereign Centre to other potential operators and to keep its facilities open until “the most satisfactory long term future is determined”.
Cllr Smart argued this approach would offer a greater understanding of the alternative options available to the council.
Following debate, the council voted to adopt the amendment proposed by Cllr Holt. This approach saw criticism from Conservatives, however.
Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Shore said: “The snap decision to close the Sovereign Centre’s fun and training pools whilst making no serious attempt at developing an alternative plan is disgraceful and symptomatic of the broader lack of any sort of strategic planning that plagues our council
“The Lib Dem’s proposal of giving the scrutiny committee two weeks to review this decision is nothing more than a cheap political stunt. The decision to close these pools has been made and a committee with a Lib Dem majority will not change this.
“The Sovereign Centre represents more than just a budget line — it’s part of the fabric of our town and protecting it should have been a top priority for our council.
“It defies belief that the council has failed to test the market for private investment into the centre or consult with local experts on ways that costs could be reduced. The truth is these closures will reduce income, likely wiping out any savings from these plans.”
