Confusion over Sobell
Published: 7 May, 2010
• THERE is widespread bemusement – and anger – at the illogicality of the council spending £1.7million of taxpayers’ money installing a new ice rink and repairing the roof and central floor area at Sobell Leisure Centre while stating on its website that it will demolish the centre.
It is this policy that users want reversed by the new council.
So, at the public meeting on April 29, it was pleasing to hear Katie Dawson re-state the support of the Green Party for keeping Sobell and Simon Toms reaffirm the support of the Conservative Party for its retention. Both stated their support for the cash investment needed to bring about this refurbishment and upgrading of facilities.
It was reassuring to hear Paul Convery’s statement that Labour will keep the building and that it plans to consult with all on how best to increase the range of sport and exercise facilities it offers. Such consultation will include a fully-costed refurbishment option and may include options that add a swimming pool and limited housing while retaining the existing centre and valuable green space surrounding the site.
Users and residents are not against more consultation but, in order to make an informed choice, do need this to be fully balanced, detailed and costed – unlike the simplistic, dismally unbalanced and very patronising consultation with which they were presented in mid-2008.
Centre users are now totally confused by the Liberal Democrat position. While the party’s leader, Terry Stacy, encouragingly promises more consultation on Sobell and has not ruled out keeping the building, the outgoing lead member for leisure and main proponent of Sobell redevelopment, Ruth Polling, restated at the meeting that the council continues to support the current policy and that, if re-elected, Lib Dems would demolish the centre, replacing it with a towering block of flats and a shrunk-down “leisure-led, mixed-use facility”, which she confirmed had been adopted in the core strategy plan for Islington.
If the two lead Liberal Democrats involved are in such disagreement, what hope do residents have of understanding their position?
Do the Lib Dems stand by their manifesto – or by Ms Polling’s statement?
Sobell users and residents have lived with uncertainty for nearly two years. They want this matter resolved by removal of the demolition/ redevelopment policy and adoption of a refurbishment/
investment policy.
Following this week’s election, all users and residents look forward to – and fully deserve – early reassurance from the new council that Sobell will not be demolished.
BARRY HILL
Sobell user representative
Comments
Will Sobell be heard or subjugated again
Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 2010-05-09 22:38.Now the political climate has changed we the users of Sobell would like to present a few notions of concern to the new administration. We would like Labour not to knock down the centre and minimize the encroachment on the area i.e. Catherine West’s policy be upheld. It is reassuring to hear Katie Dawson, Simon Toms and Paul Convery all want to retain the building. This in turn calls for the council to cease and halt this endless relentless onslaught on Sobell’s existence.
We the users have been subjugated neglected for far too long and the centre deemed as demolition site ensued by financial gag to deter improvement and exacerbate further dilapidations for it to be knocked down must stop. Reduce the disparity between Sobell and other centres like, Highbury or Ironmonger. This entails an annul maintenance budget be allocated, fix the boilers & showers, get a new ventilation system, fix the cracked walls and most importantly undertake an internal revamp meaning knocking through to expand the floor space and get rid of the excess cavity within the centre. Entice old and new users with competitive charity price range not the commercial range.
Its imperative to have a better, frank and informative consultation with the users with their needs presented unlike the Lib Dem with there flawed dossier and misrepresentations. Have the management be more in touch with the users. Finally be warned we will do everything possible to protect our Sobell. Sobell is in battle with the Council unlike Highbury or Ironmonger as they wanted by the boys and girls of the council who wants Sobell from the council eh? I hope the council looks into the petition submitted by the users.
Lee Warsame
Sobell User Representative
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