Controversy . . . local Sobell Sports Centre to shut ?

Gosh, I was well upset the other day to hear that my local sports centre is to be either re-furbished or rebuilt . . . It's a product of the 1960's 'system'' building techniques, and the fabric is really showing signs of wear and tear. I have just last week started my Cardiac Rehabilitation there (see earlier blog post).


Well, there's a public meeting at Islington town hall on Thursday 11th September, if you want to see how the Council deals with this matter.
There's a url link for information about the meeting and reports; there's apparently four different options. The link is
www.islington.gov.uk/Democracy/meetings/executivemeetingdetail.asp?meetingid=21
There's apparently four different opions.
I've sent a personal letter to ALL forty-something councillors, and copied it to my local MP Mr Jeremy Corbyn and to my local member for the Greater London Assembly Ms Jenette Arnold.

Sports Centres are a force for good in the community : they can be a meeting place, a place to socialise, a place to receive therapy (as myself, although I have previously uaed it for activities like rock-wall climbing), a place for competiitive sport, as well as restful aerobics and circuit training. and it has an ice-skating rink, the only one for miles; that may NOT be replaced . . .
I've posed SIX questions in my letter. These are "-
"Who 'owns' the Sobell and its facilities ?
Who has agreed to be responsible for upkeep and refurbishmnent/ renewal ?
Who is responsible for selecting and promoting the range of sports and leisure facilities on offer at the Sobell ?
Is the current dilapidated state of the Sobell a result of neglect, or is is 'wear and tear' ?
Will the Sobell be part of the 2012 Olympics, in a similar way to the nearby Emirates Stadium, eg. will Olympic athletes be using these facilities to train or compete ? if so, is there funding available from an Olympic-affiliated body to improve these facilities as a 'legacy' ?
In the event the Sobell was to close, what alternative facilities would be available to Islington residents, especially young people ? How far away would these alternative facilities be, and what usage demographics would then apply ? "

I've finished my letter by saying " . . . A phased programme of fabric renewal whilst some activities continue might be explored as an option to closure during refurbishment.
In conclusion, the facilities on offer at the Sobell are too valuable a resource to local residents, and especially to young people, for these to be discarded or minimised. Complete demolition is not a useful option, UNLESS a full replacement was fully funded before demolition, and unless a definite timetable for completion was agreed."
That's it for my social activism for this week. I intend to go to the meeting tomorrow evening, and will try to put my questions to the meeting's Chair. Wish me luck . . .