'Snub' for residents as £5m town leisure centre given go-ahead

East Riding Council's planning committee voted with just one against in favour of proposals to build the new centre next to Hornsea Leisure Centre. Most local people wanted it to stay on the historic Hornsea Floral Hall site, insisting a move would kill the northern end of the Promenade.

Councillors were told that if they did not approve the application, they would not get funding.

But businessman Norman Dallee who has rented council-owned premises for the last 20 years on the seafront and is being forced out to make way for sea views from the new building, said: "The people of Hornsea want it at the leisure centre.

"They are being forced to take it or leave it."

Mr Dallee, who runs an ice-cream parlour and two kiosks, told councillors the town was going the same way as Withernsea and soon there would be no reasons for people to visit the seafront during the day.

He said: "We have lots of regulars who come in and they can't believe what they are proposing."

However Independent councillor John Whittle, who spoke but did not vote, urged members to support the application – saying he did so with a heavy heart.

He said: "Hornsea's current Floral Hall is a very old lady. She has, however, iconic status in the hearts and minds of Hornsea residents. I'm well aware that when she goes a massive part of Hornsea's heritage will be lost."

But he added: "To put it simply if we don't put this cultural centre here there won't be one and when the old girl blows a gasket there will most likely not be a replacement."

Coun Barbara Jefferson spoke from the floor against the application, saying more than68 per cent of residents wanted the new centre on the old Floral Hall site.

The council's building design programme manager, Rex Bainton, admitted it hadn't been an easy project and revealed that feelings had been so strong that Yorkshire Forward, which is putting 2m into the project, took the "unprecedented" step of making the scheme subject to another independent study, which recommended the leisure centre site.

The only councillor to vote against was Philip Davison who said the building was a "box" which could have been designed by his five-year-old grandson.

East Riding Council says the centre will allow the town to host a wider range of events, including professional and amateur performances, discos and dances, and business conferences. It will also be cheaper to run.

The council's head of culture and information, Darren Stevens, said: "This brand new venue represents significant investment in Hornsea. It will be a boost for local arts as well as the economy. It will include theatre and conference facilities which will mean we can bring a broader range of events to the resort.

"Now that planning permission has been granted we will be speaking again with funding partners with a view to firming up the funding package for the project.

"I am sure many people in Hornsea will be looking forward to this new facility which will help to keep the resort's cultural scene vibrant for years to come."

The new centre could open in summer 2012.

Plans for the centre include a 300-seat auditorium and stage area; dressing rooms and a function room; two additional meeting rooms; three workshop studio spaces and a brand new shared entrance lobby between the two buildings, including a reception, caf and exhibition area.