Cockroaches at Queen Mother Sports Centre

Published: 02 July 2010
by JAMIE WELHAM

AN investigation has been launched at a public sports centre after cockroachs were spotted in the changing rooms.

An email seen by the West End Extra reveals a complaint was made to staff at the Queen Mother Sports Centre in Victoria at the weekend.

City Hall environmental health experts have been called in but officials insist it is not an “infestation”, and say that while disturbing, is not unusual at this time of year. Councillor Steve Summers, Westminster Council’s cabinet member for community services, said: “We would like to apologise to the resident concerned for not receiving the high levels of customer care which we pride ourselves on.

“Our sports and leisure facilities are some of the very best in the country used by thousands of people every week. 

“Our appointed contractor has a comprehensive programme of cleansing and pest control both during opening hours and while the centre is closed in order to ensure that the necessary standards of presentation are maintained. 

“We will be investigating this issue as a matter of urgency.”

Nuffield, the company that manages Westminster’s sports centres, has a contract with the pest control firm Rentokil. 

The firm undertakes routine inspections once a month, but has also been called out to tackle “brown ant activity”.