Sports council criticises leisure plans (From Harrow Times)

Sports council criticises leisure plans

11:29am Wednesday 6th February 2008

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A SPORTS organiser has accused Harrow Council of being short-sighted over designs for a proposed new leisure centre.

The council plans to replace Harrow Leisure Centre, in Christchurch Avenue, with a smaller building, meaning there will be less space for the clubs that use it.

Don Goff, a representative of Harrow Sports Council, said: "My main objection is that the amount of sports activity in the borough needs to increase but the proposed leisure centre is going to reduce the facilities available for people in the borough.

"It is short-sighted, I think."

The sports council is funded by Harrow Council and gives grants to amateur sports clubs in the borough.

It helps to fund Harrow Squash Club and Harrow Basketball Club, both of which are based at the leisure centre, and Mr Goff, who plays for Kenton Cricket Club and Harrow Hockey Club, said designs for the new building would decrease interest in the sports.

He said: "These grants are specifically to increase the number of young people taking part in the sports.

"Both clubs have gone out into schools and given starter sessions and are now running classes for school-aged children at the leisure centre.

"Any reduction in the size of the centre will increase the demand for the available usable space and decrease the chance of these youngsters developing their sport further."

The plans still need to go through the council's planning committee, in March, but if they go ahead the number of squash courts will be decreased from eight to two and the swimming pool will be shrunk from 33m to only 25m.

The sports council helps to pay for swimming coaches at the site and Mr Goff fears the number of people taking lessons could decrease if fewer people can use the pool at any one time.

n Councillor Anjana Patel, portfolio holder for community and cultural services, defended the council, saying the project would not reduce participation in sports.

She said: "Everybody has got a different way of looking at things but I don't think it will.

"We are talking to all the different groups, and we are taking their concerns on board."

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