acsc sports
London
In 1968 at a meeting of the Parish Council of Aldingbourne it was agreed that
there was a definite need to build a modern community centre to serve the
village. 12 years later, and at a cost of £100,000,David Purley Aldingbourne
Community Centre was completed. It was officially opened on 29th March 1980 by
local racing driver David Purley the son of Charles Purley, the founder of LEC
Refrigeration. The Centre is built on the playing fields originally managed by
the Aldingbourne Sports Council. In 1972 the Sports Council formed the 200 Club
to raise money for the project. Concise Construction Ltd of Barnham were given
the contract and together with Mr Peter Lovett plans were drawn up.
inside-hall-2 Planning permission was first granted in 1977 but was revised in
1978. With grants from the Department of the Environment, West Sussex County
Council, Arun District Council the Association were all set to begin work. But
it was not to be as straightforward as that. Problems arose concerning an access
road and time ticked by. With the knowledge that if work didn’t start on site by
a certain time they would lose their grants, the association pressed to reach an
agreement. inside-bar-1 Eventually, in March 1979 an agreement was signed and
work started immediately. The delay however, had cost the Association money. The
original quote of £72,000 for the construction of the building no longer applied
and the new cost was set up as £93,931.38p. By the time internal fittings,
alarms and other equipment had been fitted the centre cost £100,000.
