STAFF and students at a sports college are in sombre mood after an application for lottery funding of nearly £500,000 for new facilities failed.

The award at Beacon Community College,

in Crowborough, would have funded a floodlit all-weather pitch, improved changing rooms, a new entrance to the college and more car parking spaces.

The bid was submitted a year ago and the facilities would have been used by the whole community, including Crowborough Hockey Club, who currently have no home ground.

The college became

one of the country's first five Sports Colleges in 1997 and the Department of Education and Employment provided the initial funding for the pitch.

But Sports Colleges have to provide activities for the community so the pitch needed floodlights for evening and weekend use and a lottery application was made for £481,500.

Principal Alison Banks said the college expected to have its sports college status extended for a further year to 2001 and later this year would have to reapply for a further three-year term as a Sports College - from 2001 to 2004.

Mrs Banks said: "East Sussex has been at the forefront of the development of specialist colleges and we were delighted Hailsham Community College gained the status a few weeks ago, becoming the county's third Sports College.The aim is that we form a network to support other schools, and Beacon is already offering support to local primary and secondary schools in specialist PE teaching.

"This lack of financial support from the sports lottery is a bitter blow, but it will not stop us from continuing our efforts to improve students' achievements in sport."

Chair of governors Susan Stokes said: "This is sad news for the whole community of Crowborough.

"The new entrance and floodlit pitch will not now be built because of a lack of funds."

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