Urgent calls have been issued to halt the works and save one of London’s only remaining indoor tracks
Opposition groups at Brent Council have urgently called for works to remove a treasured indoor athletics track to be halted, claiming the decision was made without effective scrutiny.
The Willesden Indoor track, used by Track Academy, a charity that supports hundreds of young athletes, is set to close as Brent Council redevelops the sports centre in a £1.4m upgrade that it says will create more gym space.
Brent Council has come under fire recently for the decision, as the charity says it would struggle to maintain its membership numbers during the winter months if the closure were to go ahead, prompting calls from Olympic athletes and sporting bodies such as Athletics England to keep the track open at Willesden Sports Centre. A petition has also been launched and is available to sign on the Track Academy website.
Track Academy argues that the decision would adversely affect the young people who use the track, with Brent Council’s own Equality Impact Assessment stating it would negatively affect girls, disabled young people and ethnically diverse communities.
Cllr Anton Georgiou, Leader of the Brent Liberal Democrats and Cllr Mary Mitchell, Leader of the Green Party Group, have called upon Brent Council to “pause the work” that started on November 9, as the “ability for councillors to provide effective scrutiny was undermined”.
The councillors argue that the Cabinet’s final decision on June 22 to remove the track was neither referenced in the Cabinet papers nor communicated to other parties, including Track Academy and the Queen’s Park Harriers.
Cllr Mitchell said: “We have huge concerns with the process that has led to the decision to remove the indoor running track in Willesden Sports Centre. This is not just the loss of a sporting facility but a community space.
“Time and time again over the past 16 years we have seen the Labour-run council in Brent remove community and public spaces with very little or no consultation, and opaque decision-making that removes the opportunity for ward councillors to scrutinise and represent the perspectives of their residents.
“It is also alarming in this instance that the decision was made before the Equalities Impact Assessment was conducted. We will do all we can to continue to challenge this decision and to demand a fair consultation that takes into account all users of the space and their needs.”
The joint letter sent by the opposition groups read: “The relationship between the council and our local communities is vital. Although ceasing the planned renovation at this late stage would no doubt incur a financial cost, we believe that the cost of continuing when so many residents and users of the track feel that the council has not listened to their concerns would incur an even more significant cost – the trust of residents across our borough.
“There has already been significant negative press coverage of the council’s plans for the sports centre and the campaign against the removal of the indoor track is growing amongst residents and has support from leading figures in athletics, include the CEO of Athletics England.
“We believe that without an urgent rethink on the removal of the indoor track, you risk doing further serious reputational damage to Brent Council.”
In response to these renewed calls, Patrik Ewe, CEO of Track Academy, said: “The message from our community is loud and clear: the council cannot remove the indoor running track without public consultation, without confirming a replacement. Until a funded, year-round alternative is confirmed in writing, the track must stay open.
“More than 1,000 Brent residents have signed the petition and more than 320 have contacted their local councillors opposing the indoor track closure, securing cross-party support. We urge Brent residents to continue to speak up so the council listens.
“Two thirds of our young people see improvements in their school performance, while more than three quarters report greater confidence and an improved ability to manage stress and setbacks.
“We need the council to recognise the value of this facility to our community and commit to a like-for-like provision that allows young people to train properly all year round.”
Brent Council has referred to its previous response to the objections. Councillor Liz Dixon, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Public Health at Brent Council, said: “Willesden Sports Centre’s gym and fitness facilities have been facing capacity and layout constraints for some time. This £1.4 million investment will modernise the centre and create much-needed additional capacity so that more Brent residents can benefit.
“The redesign will provide a larger gym, a dedicated spin studio, a flexible multi-use activity space, and improved equipment as well as making the centre much more accessible and inclusive.
“We recognise the important work Track Academy does with young people through athletics, mentoring, and educational support. We understand their concerns, and we have been working with them on securing alternative indoor provision within Willesden Sports Centre. Track Academy will continue to have access to indoor provision, while the outdoor 400m athletics track is entirely unaffected.
“We will continue working hard to give every Brent resident the opportunity to lead a healthy and active lifestyle, and supporting those impacted by the changes in their local area.”
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