CONCERNS OVER MAYOR’S CONSULTATION ON SPORTS CENTRE
Concern over the Mayor of London’s consultation on the National Sports Centre has been expressed by Green Party Cllr Darren Johnson.
In a letter to Boris Johnson, the ‘Londonwide’ member raises several concerns including the future of the London Youth Games – and says the suggested primary school is not listed as an appropriate use of metropolitan open land in the London Plan.
LONDON YOUTH GAMES: “All the options assume that there is no longer sufficient demand for the athletics facilities.
“Given that these are currently used by a number of events such as triathlons and the London Youth Games, could the additional background information make clear whether these events have already agreed to relocate to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic park in Stratford, east London or find alternative arrangements?
“A second issue on this theme relates back to the need for further information on the options appraisal. “The consultation implies that the NSC will no longer provide a regional sports centre (as envisaged in the masterplan), but the odge and accommodation is to be retained.
“What is the demand for those buildings, if the athletics facilities are to be significantly downgraded or removed?” asks Darren Johnson.
PRIMARY SCHOOL: “All options include the provision of a primary school. “This proposal is not in the masterplan, and is not listed as an appropriate use of Metropolitan Open Land in the London Plan.”
(The first option is for a two-storey primary school on one side of the sports arena with a two-storey Capel Manor building on the Jubilee stand site;
the second is for two single storeys of a primary school on one side of the arena with a two-storey Capel manor opposite while the third is to see both the primary school and Capel Manor housed in two two-storey buildings opposite the Jubilee stand.)
Darren Johnson continues: “While I am not requesting that you rule this out at this stage, I do urge that the consultation be amended to include an option without the school, with the financial implications of the inclusion or exclusion of the school made clear.
“This option without a school could implement the vision in the masterplan of the ‘creation of a grassed amphitheatre’. “The drawings also don’t show any private grounds around the school. If there are intended to be fenced off areas such as a playground, this should be made clear.”
darren Johnson opens his letter by saying he is writing to convey some constituents’ concerns about the consultation on the future of the National Sports Centre.
Welcoming the launch of the consultation, and the mayor’s work examining options for this important site, Darren Johnson says his officers are to be congratulated on a very clear, accessible online survey.
“But you should also publish as much detailed information from the options appraisal as possible, to enable constituents to better examine the business case for the proposals you are putting forward.
“The consultation clearly makes certain assumptions about the viability of options, without giving our constituents the information to fully understand them.
“I should therefore like you to publish the full options appraisals online, and distribute them at the consultation events.” (These events were held last week – Ed.)
The consultation process runs from 6-31 October. You can have your say by:
* reading the consultation paper and taking the brief survey – http://survey.euro.confirmit.com/wix/p1838870106.aspx
* going to the public exhibition on the plans, which is at the entrance to Crystal Palace National Sports Centre until October 27th.
Some further background on this work can be found in the following decision papers:
http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor-assembly/gla/governing-organisation/executive-team/directors-decisions/DD1172
