Horntye Park development could begin this summer
Horntye Park
BUILDING work to create more than 100 flats at the struggling Horntye Park sports complex could begin this summer more than two years after planning permission was granted.
The board of trustees, which runs the facility, is confident a deal with an unnamed developer can be signed, sealed and delivered within the next six months.
The Trust has until December to start building work or it will have to reapply for planning permission.
In December 2009, the Trustees were granted permission to develop land on the complex for housing.
The money generated from any land sale is aimed at helping keep the Trust afloat to run the complex which was opened just over 10 years ago with a £3.5 million grant from Sport England.
The site is currently home to South Saxons Hockey Club and Hastings Cricket Club attracts a number of local football clubs for training on its synthetic pitch.
As part of the development an indoor bowling facility would be built with six lanes.
There are 12 members of the trust which is a charitable trust.
Chairman of the board of Trustees, Chris Thayre (CORR) said a deal with the developer was now within striking distance.
He said: “We are confident that we can get something agreed within the next week or so.
“It has been a struggle but we should be able to see the fruits of our labour very soon.
“The staff have been brilliant and I must thank them for their hard work and support.
“The current economic climate has been very difficult and we do struggle to make money out of sport in general.
“It was always going to be a challenge to run a facility like this because we receive no grant funding since opening up.”
General manager Kevin Miller added: “It has been a difficult over the last few years but we are getting very close to ironing everything out.
“I think we might see a JCB digger or two around here in the summer.”
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Weather for Hastings
Monday 28 May 2012
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Temperature: 13 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: West
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