Keys to 'gem' of a facility handed over

The trust has now signed a lease and will manage the centre for 30 years. The council has agreed to a grant of 25,000 to help with running costs for the first year

The community building in the Ropetackle development at Shoreham will now be fitted out with specialist equipment such as digital projection, screens, lighting and seating.

Adur council leader Neil Parkin said: "I am delighted, after all the hiccups along the way, to be handing the keys to the Ropetackle Centre to the trust. We all look forward to the doors opening to the public."

Trust chairman Tim Loughton MP said: "It has been a long, hard haul since a group of dedicated local volunteers (who eventually became the Ropetackle Centre Trust) was first established in April, 2001, to investigate establishing a community facility on Ropetackle, but it has been worth it.

"I am grateful to the hard work of all those associated with the trust and for the help of Adur council, which has worked in partnership with us to achieve what I believe will become one of the most exciting jewels in Adur's crown.

"There is still a lot of hard work and fund-raising to be completed before we can open the doors fully, but signing the lease is a major hurdle that we have now crossed."