The stadium at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre has been badly neglected for the past decade, and its state of disrepair is now being used as an excuse to demolish it. The 25m teaching pool and indoor athletics area are also under threat
The Crystal Palace Community Association is holding an open meeting next week to discuss the future of the National Sports Centre.
As details of plans for the Centre have emerged during the recent consultation process, organised on behalf of the Greater London Authority, it seems that the London Mayor wants to demolish the indoor athletics training area and 25-metre teaching pool.
The main stadium’s spectator stands and even the track, the home of British athletics for half a century, are also under threat of being bulldozed.
“Once they’re gone, they’re gone,” say the organisers of Crystal Palace Sports Partnership, the organisation formed of centre users, coaches and other stake-holders.
They have been campaigning for the promised, proper investment in the facilities to bring this important regional sports centre up to the standard which was promised as part of London’s 2012 Olympic legacy.
Crystal Palace NSC staged world-class sports events for half a century
“We need to act now as a community, otherwise we will end up with a scaled-down centre.”
The CPSP asks as many people as possible to participate in the GLA’s consultation survey and events (click here for more details). Today is the deadline for responses to the online survey.
Next week’s meeting, at the Paxton Centre, Anerley Hill (opposite Crystal Palace station) on October 11, is expected to discuss the community’s response to the down-grading of the sports centre.
The meeting is to start at 7.30pm.
The CPCA celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2019, and will also be planning events to mark the occasion.
“Members and supporters of the CPCA, new and old, are very welcome,” they say.
“Please come along on October 11. Tea, coffee and cake is on us. Licensed bar available.”
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