Haggerston Pool Newsletter September 30th 2004

WHAT'S HAPPENING ABOUT LABURNUM SCHOOL?
Financial Services Company UBS who offered to sponsor a new city academy on the site of Laburnum primary school, (which is in the street behind Haggerston Pool) have not yet agreed with Hackney Council what land and buildings will be included in the school site - even though the talks have been going on for nearly a year and the school is due to open in September 2006. 
 
UBS say they intend to have the main school building open for September 2007 and are looking at temporary accommodation for the school from September 2006.
 
However, the primary school site is not big enough for a secondary school, particularly if it is to have a sixth form.
 
The Council had intended the site of Tannery Arts and the 2 galleries at Brunswick Wharf in Laburnum Street to be part of the school development.  But the site owner, Russell Gray, and the artists working at the gallery and studios have mounted a campaign to keep Tannery Arts there - the Independent wrote the full story, you can read it here http://education.independent.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=545751.
 
The Council are threatening to compulsorily purchase the Tannery Arts land if an agreement is not reached, but UBS told the Independent  "The wharf site [IE Tannery Arts], initially favoured by our advisors, is one option under discussion and investigations continue to look at ways in which alternative land might be added to the Laburnum site in order to accommodate the educational need".
 
Tannery Arts owner, Russell Gray, who owns a property company, has offered to refurbish Haggerston Pool if his site is left out of the school development.
 
 
AND WHAT'S HAPPENING ABOUT HAGGERSTON POOL?
The refurbishment of Haggerston Pool - for the use of both the school and the public - is still a proposed part of the new Laburnum school.  However the whole school development appears to be held up while the actual site of the school is agreed (see item above).
 
 
HACKNEY'S PARALYMPIC STARS  
Elaine Barrett, who trained at Haggerston Pool until it closed 3 months before the Sydney Olympics, and then at Clissold, until it closed 9 months before the Athens Olympics, has won a gold medal in the 100m breaststroke at the Paralympic games.  Dervus Konuralp, who trains at York Hall in Bethnal Green won bronze in the 200m.
 
 
HACKNEY SPORTS STRATEGY - FINAL, FINAL DRAFT
Hackney's long awaited sports strategy is about to be finalised.  
 
There is no commitment to re-open Haggerston Pool.  But the strategy says  "Haggerston Pool and Spring Hill Sports Centre are two major projects which impact on the wider provision of leisure facilities in the borough. The Council will work with Sport England and other partners to bring to a resolution issues on outstanding schemes and broker opportunities for new development. It will continue to advocate and negotiate for the best possible outcomes in progressing these and other schemes that add value to the quality of life of local residents."  

Even though Hackney has just one pool for lane swimming and 3 closed swimming pools, the strategy also says  "Swimming is a ‘target sport’ for Hackney and a form of physical activity that most people, once confident and proficient, can undertake independently.  In particular, in Hackney with its many waterways, it is a life saving skill to be encouraged." 

If you'd like to read the whole report contact Lawrie Baker at HVA for a copy on 020 7241 4443 ext.32. 

Comments to Rhys Lewis at Hackney Town Hall by October 8th (Rhys.lewis@hackney.gov.uk )   

CLISSOLD ON ITV
ITV have made a program about the story of the closure of Clissold Leisure Centre including interviews with people who used the centre in the brief period it was open.   The program can be seen on the London Program ITV Friday 1st October 11pm.   

 
LONDON FIELDS LIDO
The new Hackney Sports Strategy (see above) says that in this financial year the Council will "Test the feasibility of facilities at the London Fields Lido site".   Hackney Council spent £25,000 on a report to see if the lido can be opened on a temporary basis next summer.
 
 
CLISSOLD - REPORTS DELAYED FOR COLD WEATHER TESTING
Clissold Leisure Centre in Stoke Newington closed in November 2003 having cost £32 million and been open just 23 months.
 
Hackney Council website says "The Council has commissioned Bickerdike Allen Partners, architects, and Arup, structural, mechanical and electrical engineering specialists to establish the extent of the faults with the building and what work needs to be done to correct the faults. A report is expected at the end of the summer 2004." http://www.hackney.gov.uk/index/council/departments/communityleisure/clissold-leisure-centre.htm
 
This report has now been delayed so that the investigators can do cold weather testing.
 
The scrutiny committee, run by Hackney Councillors, to look into what happened at Clissold - and which took evidence from Council officers and members of the public - has delayed its report in turn to await the outcome of the architect's report. 
 
Clissold campaign website www.clissoldleisure.com  
 
LONDON POOLS CAMPAIGN -  ANOTHER POOL LOST 
London lost another pool in July when Charlton Lido closed, though there are attempts to get it open again for club swimming.   The future of Northolt Swimarama and Streatham pools are also in doubt.       More information on www.londonpoolscampaign.com