PARTNERSHIP SOUNDS HEALTH WARNING OVER PALACE FUTURE

Whilst welcoming draft GLA design proposals for Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, the Crystal Palace Sports Partnership (CPSP) last week warned of significant concerns over key elements that could compromise the entire future of the site’s operations.

A GLA exhibition of the latest design proposals will provide a “final” public opportunity to offer feedback to the GLA’s project team on the future of the centre, but CPSP state that these proposals fall well short of a satisfactory and realistic final plan. 

Concerns include hugely inadequate parking space, poor accessibility in several areas, a lack of commitment to enhance the 25m pool, questionable dimensions of an indoor track facility, and risk of permanent loss of the indoor dome – a huge blow to the football community.

CPSP Chair, John Powell MBE commented: “There are aspects of the GLA plan which are promising, but it falls way short of what many thousands of users will be hoping for.  Users will also be anxiously awaiting final plans to accommodate the hugely popular and well used healthcare / physiotherapy facility currently located in the Jubilee Stand.  As the largest local employer, and one that supports NHS patients as well as private, this represents a huge asset to the centre as a whole.

 “We have provided advice on necessary dimensions of an indoor track and the likely best mix of associated facilities, and the project team have taken note, but we will have to wait and see if our views are fully taken on board.”

CPSP is concerned of the GLAs approach of booking their ‘community conference’ event on the same day and time as a major swimming championships event, which is unlikely to capture regular users of the centre over most sports and the local community.  The Board has requested that an extended exhibition is made available for all users of the centre and local area, so they can have an opportunity to see and provide further feedback.

Due to the clash of the conference event and Swimming Championships on Saturday 9th February, everyone wishing to attend on the conference events are strongly advised to reserve a free place for the event – go to http://on-your-marks.co.uk/#events

See the  NSC workshop draft studies and options (click here), and respond to the “Trialling the Design Options” NSC survey  www.on-your-marks.co.uk/#questionnaire

This final public event follows the Mayor of London’s Neil Allen Associates sporting needs report into the NSC that started in 2017.  Read their  Sporting Facility Assessment National Sports Centre, Crystal Palace – A Final Report.pdf

For the latest CP NSC news click here.

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Date of publication: 5th February 2019.  For all media enquiries contact media@cpsp2020.com or contact  chair@cpsp2020.com