Cabinet minister visits King Alfred in Hove

A senior government minister visited the King Alfred Leisure Centre in Hove yesterday (Monday 27 October).

Sajid Javid, the Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, was given a tour of the leisure centre by his Conservative colleague Graham Cox, the party’s parliamentary candidate in Hove.

The tour took place days after Hove MP Mike Weatherley presented a petition about the King Alfred to Brighton and Hove City Council.

Sajid Javid and Graham Cox

Mr Weatherley called on the council to include a 50-metre swimming pool in its plans to redevelop the site. The council is currently advertising for a development partner, to be chosen by next April.

Councillor Cox said: “The King Alfred in its current state is tired and outdated.

“I want to see high-class sports, swimming and leisure facilities that support the Olympic legacy and that offer something everyone can enjoy.

“It was great to show Sajid around and hear his support for my plans to modernise the centre.”

The cabinet minister and Councillor Cox also met sports coaches from the Hove charity Grace Eyre which uses the King Alfred.

They talked about the work done by Grace Eyre with disabled people across Sussex.

The charity offers expert sports training to people with learning disabilities and some of its athletes have gone on to compete in the Brighton and Hove Special Olympics and the Paralympics.

Grace Eyre recently received £300,000 of funding from Sport England to extend its project.

Councillor Cox said: “Grace Eyre is a fantastic local charity that provides a hugely important service to disabled people in our community, proving that sport is for everyone.

“A redeveloped King Alfred would be a great way to support charities like this one.”