Administrators of a former leisure centre in Folkestone say building homes on the site cannot be ruled out, as the local MP fights to get the facility reopened.
Folkestone Sports Centre in Radnor Park Avenue, shut suddenly at the end of July 2024, causing 144 job losses. The charity which ran it said it could no longer afford to remain operational.
Documents published by Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) show there are a number of restrictive covenants on the land, namely that it is used for recreational purposes only.
But Opus Restructuring and Insolvency, which was appointed as joint administrators of Folkestone Sports Centre Trust, is not ruling out properties being built on the site, though it stresses no developer has come forward yet.
It comes as new Labour MP Tony Vaughan, who defeated Conservative incumbent Damian Collins at the recent general election, says he is “pulling out all the stops” to reopen the facility.
Mr Vaughan, who represents Folkestone and Hythe, says he understands “how desperate local people are to keep it open”. He said “I’ve been pulling out all the stops to make sure that we can reopen the sports centre.”
Developers can apply for restrictive covenants, which forbid developments happening on land, to be removed.
In this case, Lord Radnor of Folkestone donated the site to the trust for recreational use only, and the facility opened in 1972. But Nick Hood, a senior adviser at Opus, says the company will have to take the best offer, which could mean the site falls into the hands of developers.
Asked if the site could become homes, he said: “I can certainly confirm we’re not allowed to rule it out under our statutory duties but it’s not our priority, it’s just something that we may have to consider if there is no better offer from an operator.
If the site was turned into housing, it would mean that there would be no chance to return the site to public use or recreation. It would be another kick for people living in Folkestone, who would have to travel miles to Dover for the nearest swimming pool.
