by Graham Tutthill

The Dover Sea Sports Development Trust has now secured the funding required to complete the new sea sports centre on Dover Beach.

This follows additional support from Dover District Council, Kent County Council, the Homes and Communities Agency and Dover Harbour Board.

These organisations are significant contributors in a group of 20 major funding partners which include local individuals and businesses as well as the Sports Lottery Fund and government agencies. The total build cost is £2.5 million.

The trust had been having difficulty in securing the final 10 per cent of the cost as a result of the recession. Consequently, completion of the building was delayed although access to parts of the building has been available to the participating clubs since earlier this year.

When complete in the autumn, the centre will have a café and restaurant which will be open to the public as well as to club members.

"It offers exceptional views of all that is going on in the harbour including the harbour seal which has been a regular visitor this summer," said trust chairman Bill Fawcus.

"The centre will also provide a venue for exhibitions of the ambitious plans for Dover Waterfront which will be going out for consultation round about the time that it opens."