Controversial plans to redevelop the King Alfred Leisure Centre will lead to a loss of sporting facilities for local residents, it is claimed.

Citygrove Leisure has won approval for a £25million scheme to turn the centre in Kingsway, Hove, into a leisure complex.

It has already signed a deal with UGC-Virgin for an 11-screen cinema on the site, but has dropped plans for a casino.

Citygrove directors say the money they make from the cinema project will be used to help pay for sports facilities at the new King Alfred, including upgrading the pool.

But local residents and councillors say a chance to develop the site as a sporting centre of excellence has been lost.

Hove councillor Jenny Langston said there were plans to improve sports facilities in Hove by combining the redevelopment of the King Alfred with providing new facilities at Blatchington Mill School which would be open to the public.

She said: "Blatchington Mill has now had the sports and gymnastics centre project withdrawn, despite the time, money and effort that has been given to it.

"There are now no plans to divert money from the sale of the King Alfred towards the Blatchington Mill School community sports centre, despite the council encouraging the plans."

The Argus revealed last month how Citygrove had been given a zero credit-

rating after failing to file company accounts for more than two years.