Acsc Sports

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.