Sailing club wins expansion backing

Monday afternoon's meeting readily agreed to back the third and most ambitious phase of the club's programme of expansion and improvement.

The club had asked Rother for 35,000 of funding to match the 35,000 it is putting into its Sports Lottery bid.

The club is hoping the Lottery will contribute 60,000 towards the 181,500 scheme.

Monday's cabinet decision is subject to council agreement in September on a review of its capital spending programme.

Lead cabinet member Cllr Bill Clements told the meeting: "I think this is an excellent proposal in that the Sailing Club have put their own money forward. This is not the first project that they have undertaken. They have improved their facilities considerably. This is a club with over 500 members, from 12 to pensioner-plus.

"There is a very considerable percentage of the membership from the other areas of Rother. I would support this 100 per cent."

Cllr Peter Fairhurst said the presentation by the club had been excellent. "They were wanting to tell the council what they were doing. They had a plan, a proposal and they presented it very well."

Council leader Cllr Graham Gubby said he shared a "personal passion" to see a water sports centre of excellence possibly involving the Rowing Club established at Bexhill and he was delighted the Sailing Club was pressing ahead.