The man in charge of the future of the King Alfred site has said the leisure centre's flumes will be removed as part of a £1.5 million emergency repair package.

Ted Kemble, cabinet member for major projects, made the revelation during The Argus's Friday Inquisition.

Councillor Kemble also said that while the council was looking for land for a new primary school in the area, the city's planning blueprint ruled the Hove seafront site out of the equation.

Urgent repairs to the centre were agreed by Brighton and Hove City Council's cabinet on Tuesday.

The £1.5 million investment is needed to ensure the ageing facility meets basic health and safety standards while a long-term plan is devised.

Last weekend the £290 million redevelopment of the King Alfred centre, designed by Frank Gehry, was definitively ruled out.

This followed the withdrawal of the financial backer, Dutch bank ING, in July.

Coun Kemble said: "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."