Having a private road leading to our sports centre is just idiotic

Published: 23 June, 2011

• AS a parent who for many years transported three children to and from the Talacre sports centre for various after-school clubs and parties I must say that doing so was the most stressful and difficult part of my week, and one I dreaded. 

We couldn’t come by public transport as there isn’t a direct bus or train that would let us arrive in time, so I had to drive. It only took seven minutes, but that was the easy part. 

It was always impossible to find a pay and display anywhere near Talacre so I had to run the risk of a ticket and enter the nightmare that was dropping off and collecting in Dalby Street. Far too many parents like me were in exactly the same position and we all had to drive, park and turn around in the very small narrow street and then run in with our children hoping we wouldn’t get a ticket from the wardens. 

All the while watching out for small children coming by foot and naturally not necessarily sticking to the pavement.

I was hoping that at some stage this dangerous situation would be sorted out, but instead it has now been made immeasurably worse by the ridiculous privatisation of that road. I simply can’t imagine how private security guards will be able to effect proper control. 

Are we all to queue meekly in Prince of Wales Road trying to turn right and waiting for the all clear? 

Having a private road leading to a public facility is clearly idiotic. It is going to be dangerous to implement, fraught for parents and children alike, and counterproductive.

If Talacre is going to remain open to all in the surrounding area it must be accessible to those of us not within walking distance.  

And privatisation is the exact opposite of what is needed.

ZOZI GOODMAN
Tufnell Park Road, N7

Safety checks

• LONG-suffering readers about the Dalby Street/Talacre fiasco can now see for themselves what the junction of the new road access from Prince of Wales Road to the sports centre building will be like. 

As of this week there is a gate for construction traffic. It is less than three metres from the bridge where two buses have lost their top decks. 

If and when the new road being constructed – using this entrance – is completed the new access road to the building will start there.

So Camden should have a good look at it, unless they believe they have no moral or legal duty of care. Camden has not yet acceded to requests to have an independent, full, road safety audit of the new road, with a proper survey of its use and impact on the junction. And it has still not said it will use its rights to insist that the owner employs a marshal at the junction end of the road.

NICK HARDING
www.savetalacre.co.uk