Jubliee Sports Centre must be saved

Hanging out at the Jubilee Sports Centre

Hanging out at the Jubilee Sports Centre

I have written to the Mayor call on you to direct refusal for the application for the redevelopment of Moberly Sports and Education Centre when it comes to the GLA. as the resultant demolition of the Jubilee Sports Centre and redevelopment of the Moberly Sports Centre does not sit well with London Plan Policy 3.19 Sports Facilities.
The redevelopment is only made possible by the demolition of the Jubilee Sports Centre. The existing Jubilee is a popular leisure centre serving the local community in one of Westminster’s most deprived wards. It makes no sense to demolish this well-loved facility and replace it at great cost with another nearly a mile away in another borough. The redevelopment is also a bad deal for Brent. The new facility will be expected to accommodate existing users and those who currently use the Jubilee. Populations in both boroughs are expected to rise, but this redevelopment does not represent a meaningful increase in provision.
Many of us take issue with the claim that the replacement facility at Moberly will provide “a 40% increase in the availability of sports and leisure facilities in this part of north London”, as Westminster City Council argues in its Planning Supporting Statement. In fact, it appears that the new facility will simply replace the current offers at the existing Moberly and Jubilee centres, albeit with slightly more space and with the addition of a boxing ring. For example, the proposed 25- metre pool and smaller ‘teaching pool’ would replace the existing 25-metre pool at Jubilee. The 1442 square metres of sports halls in the existing Moberly and Jubilee centres would be replaced by 1550 square metres of sports halls in the new facility. These changes do not justify the demolition of the existing Jubilee Sports Centre and forcing local residents to travel outside of the borough to access sports facilities.
Its a critical local issue, which will no doubt have a bearing on the local election in the Queens Park Ward & and the first Parish Council elections in the ward as well, tomorrow.
Please find a copy of my letter to the Mayor

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