‘Transformational’ £400k boost for rundown sports centre reopening plan

A rundown sports centre closed for two years and vandalised by youths has received a huge funding boost as it edges closer to reopening.

Folkestone Sports Centre shut in July 2024 when the previous tenants went into administration.

It was hoped the attraction would partially reopen in September, but bosses of The Sports Trust (TST) have told KentOnline a date is not yet known and will be revealed “in due course”.

The sports centre has now also received a National Lottery grant of almost £386,542 to support the reopening, including the refurbishment of its once-popular swimming pool and changing rooms.

Bosses say the funding represents a “major milestone” in its vision to restore the Radnor Park Avenue site as a thriving community hub featuring a range of activities.

Dan Hulme, chief executive of TST, which also runs Folkestone’s Three Hills Sports Park and F51, says the lottery funding will be “transformational”.

“Reopening Folkestone Sports Centre is about much more than restoring a building – it is about creating opportunities, improving health and wellbeing, and bringing people together,” he said.

Meanwhile, MP for Folkestone and Hythe, Tony Vaughan, praised Mr Hulme and TST patron Sir Roger De Haan for their work bringing the “much-valued community asset back to life”.

The Labour representative added: “Accessible community spaces for youth, older people and families are severely lacking in Folkestone.

“So I am relieved we will finally be able to see Folkestone Sports Centre back up and running.

“I used to take my children swimming there and I know how much it means in our community.

“I was therefore pleased to introduce TST to The National Lottery Community Fund so they could see firsthand the immense value the sports centre brings to Folkestone, and to support their funding bid.”

In March, Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) chiefs approved a £2.4 million grant to TST, which is set to operate the facility after “outbidding a number of housing developers”.

It formed part of the funding for the wider £4.5 million refurbishment project of the overall sports centre.

But just hours after finding out that funding was confirmed, bosses discovered the venue had been targeted during a break-in.

Yobs forced entry into the site, smashing reinforced windows and causing “considerable destruction” throughout the building, including the pool itself being left filled with debris. Footage of the vandalism was posted on TikTok.

It forced contractors to adapt parts of the reopening plan.

The initial works the FHDC grant has helped support include the pool renovation, new changing facilities, the installation of solar panels and repairs to the flat roof.

Currently, Hythe Swimming Pool remains the only public swimming facility in the district – but that site is due to close for refurbishment in late 2027 or early 2028.