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Welcome to the Friday Inquisition.
Each week, from 12.30 to 1.30, a different person will be in the hotseat ready to answer
your questions on all the burning local issues affecting the region.
To submit your question simply fill in the form below and click send. Our guest's
responses can be read in the relevant article below.
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Question Councillor Ted Kemble about the King Alfred
11:05am Friday 21st November 2008
The man in charge of the future of the King Alfred will be answering your questions today.
Coun Kemble will respond to your queries online between midday and 1pm.
To leave a question fill in the form above.
Your Say YourArgus
Friday Inquisition, Brighton says...
12:05pm Fri 21 Nov 08
Darren Lockley
According to the projected figures we have on young children entering the primary school system we have identified a need for a further primary school in central Hove. Unfortunately, the King Alfred site is not big enough to build a new primary school. As you know planning consent exists for a first-class leisure centre within an enabling development of 750 housing units. My understanding of the local plan is that this site is not available for development as a primary school.
TK
minimee, hove says...
12:10pm Fri 21 Nov 08
Friday Inquisition, Brighton says...
12:11pm Fri 21 Nov 08
Also, will the slide be fixed as part of the 1.5 million repairs? and the 300,000 in legal fees,could the in house legal team be used to reduce these fees? in the future could the bowling alley be reopened? and the cafe?
mrs stack
Planning consent for the King Alfred site exists for a first-class leisure centre with an enabling development of 750 housing units. My understanding of the local plan is that the site is not available for development as a primary school.
Part of the £1.5 million expenditure will be used on urgent health and safety issues. The result of this will be the demolition and removal of the flumes. As for the bowling alley and the café, the administration is considering all the available options for the site.
TK
Friday Inquisition, Brighton says...
12:18pm Fri 21 Nov 08
Amy
I think it is highly unlikely that Mr Gehry will be involved in any future plans for the King Alfred. However, once the administration has looked at the development brief for the site, another high-profile architect might show an interest in future plans.
Until the administration has considered all the available options the King Alfred will remain open as a leisure centre for the foreseeable future.
TK
minimee, hove says...
12:25pm Fri 21 Nov 08
Friday Inquisition, Brighton says...
12:33pm Fri 21 Nov 08
Caroline Davis
Thank you for your questions Caroline.
When the administration has firm proposals on how the King Alfred Complex should be taken forward, we will consult with residents, stakeholders and partners on those proposals.
TK
Friday Inquisition, Brighton says...
12:41pm Fri 21 Nov 08
David Wilkins
The King Alfred and Brighton Centre projects are two totally separate development projects. Funding for the various developments that are being undertaken within the city comes from the developers backing the individual projects and therefore it is impossible for funds to be switched between the schemes.
TK
Friday Inquisition, Brighton says...
12:51pm Fri 21 Nov 08
This needs to be very simple but something we're all proud of.
Can you confirm that your not giving up the fight on this. I did hear that a local architect practice worked on alternative plans, to show the council what could be achieved without mass housing on the site, as in the last scheme - is this a viable option still?
matthew saul
Thank you for your email Mr Saul.
We can’t build an Olympic-size competition pool because the Sports Council decides the location of these. I can assure you that this administration is not giving up on providing first class sports facilities at this location. I am not aware that a local architectural practice had worked on alternative plans. I will in the next few days make enquiries to see if this is the case and if you are happy for me to be given your email address I will come back to you when I have further information.
`TK
Friday Inquisition, Brighton says...
12:55pm Fri 21 Nov 08
Skunky
Hello Skunky.
The King Alfred has not had any real maintenance carried out on it for nearly 10 years and as such is starting to look tired. I am pleased to see that you are a regular user of the centre and hope that once the necessary repairs have been carried out you will continue to use the facilities there.
TK
Friday Inquisition, Brighton says...
1:07pm Fri 21 Nov 08
Ps I liked the alternative design offered by the architect who designed the new Brighton library which included a 50 metre pool.
John Parker
Thank you for your email Mr Parker,
I note the comments that you have made about the swimming pool complex in Montpelier, France. The design of any new leisure centre will be totally subject to how the architect interprets the design brief.
As I’ve mentioned already the Sports Council is unlikely to agree to a 50-metre pool in the city.
TK
Friday Inquisition, Brighton says...
1:15pm Fri 21 Nov 08
12:28pm Fri 21 Nov 08
Hi,
Can you tell me
a) Will you need to close the kind alfred centre for this upgrade?
b) As a member of the prince regent, will the centre join the other facilities in the town and be run by DC leisure?
c) When will the town get a 50-meter pool?
Kind regards
Marty
Thank you for your email Marty in which you raise concerns about the King Alfred Leisure Centre.
A. As I stated yesterday in cabinet, it is in the administration’s intention to keep the King Alfred open whilst the health and safety and urgent works are completed. However, one of the options under consideration is to close certain areas whilst the work is being carried out i.e. close the dry side to complete urgent works whilst keeping the wet side open and vice versa.
B. There are no plans for the king Alfred to be run by DC Leisure.
C. A 50-metre pool is not planned for the city. The Sports Council decides the location of 50-metre pools throughout the country.
TK
Charismatic Andrew, Patcham says...
1:15pm Fri 21 Nov 08
Can you please try and get your facts right? The Sports Council does not decide the location of Olympic-size swimming pools.
Individual councils decide whether they plan to build an Olympic-size swimming pools. They then go to SPORT ENGLAND with their proposals and possible funding. Not the other way around. By the way it hasn't been called the Sports Council for ages.
Regards Andrew.
Friday Inquisition, Brighton says...
1:20pm Fri 21 Nov 08
TK
Glenda, Hove says...
1:33pm Fri 21 Nov 08
Charismatic Andrew wrote:Exactly.
Cllr Kemble, Can you please try and get your facts right? The Sports Council does not decide the location of Olympic-size swimming pools. Individual councils decide whether they plan to build an Olympic-size swimming pools. They then go to SPORT ENGLAND with their proposals and possible funding. Not the other way around. By the way it hasn't been called the Sports Council for ages. Regards Andrew.
Hillingdon Council are building a new 50m pool and refurbishing an outdoor 1930's Lido. Total cost £22million and no greedy developers involved. They went to Sports Council (or Sports England) for funding and got £1.5million.
So a 50m pool does not have to be ruled out through misinformation.
I also like Mr Kembles' comments that when they have a plan for the King Alfred they will consult the local people. How is that Public Consultation?
bug eye, hove says...
12:07am Sun 23 Nov 08
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minimee, hove says...
11:18am Fri 21 Nov 08