Children at heart of Talacre sports centre use

Published: 2nd June, 2011

• THE astonishing disclosure that parents can’t deliver or pick up children under eight (or 14 in some cases) is hard to believe, even for those of us who have read the record amount of correspondence in your pages (With nowhere to park, will we still be welcome at Talacre sports centre? May 26).

What possible justification can there be for allowing such a development? 

The gymnastics club, for example, caters for 1,000 children a week many of whom are young and come from a distance. Did no one foresee the loss of income the sports centre will suffer? The council should immediately revoke the planning permission. If that means paying compensation it would still make sense. 
Yasmin Allen
Malden Road, NW5

Safeguards!

• WIDESPREAD concern for the future of Talacre Gardens gave rise to its registration as a Town Green. 

From the security of this safeguarded open space, the Friends of Talacre Town Green view with concern the reduction in the scale and quality of access to the Talacre Community Sports Centre. The council mapped out a sequence of events intended to ensure that the quality of access using Dalby Street would be maintained. It is now apparent that council assurances that the rules of agreements with the developer would be adhered to were little more than smoke and mirrors.

For how much longer do we have to watch the amenity of the sports centre be eroded?
Peter Cuming
Chair of Friends of Talacre Town Green, NW5

Road survey

• SEVERAL letters have been published about the obvious danger that would exist at the junction of the new road access (New Dalby Street) to Talacre sports centre if Findon Urban Lofts proceed with its development.

Readers have demanded a full road safety audit. No reply has come from Camden. Are we to assume that they are not interested in safety?

If Camden’s excuse is that New Dalby Street is privately owned it won’t wash. There is nothing to prevent it commissioning one and it should do so before it allows the new junction to be built. 

Camden has the authority under the legal agreement signed with the developer to require whatever changes are needed to “…safeguard secure and guarantee public amenity and safe free marshalled properly maintained and commodious access for the public at large to and from the leisure centre”.

This safety audit should be commissioned by Camden (not the developer) with a survey of present traffic on both Dalby Street and Prince of Wales Road. 

It should be required to take into account the existing needs of the sports centre but also such potential future needs.
Nick Harding
www.savetalacre.co.uk