Crystal Palace communities call for new sports centre

Athlete's Track Crystal Palace ParkResidents, businesses and local groups around Crystal Palace Park would like to see the current National Sports Centre replaced with a new centre that is closer to transport links and fits in with the park surroundings, it was announced today.

The call came after months of discussions between the communities around the park and the London Development Agency (LDA), which is set to take on responsibility for the sports centre next February.

The idea of building a new centre connected to the athletics track was very popular at last September's major public consultation, when a range of ideas were exhibited and 2500 people had their say. Since then a core group of local people have studied the ideas in greater detail. In particular six community members have put a considerable amount of time and effort into the process.

The following statements were agreed by the Crystal Palace Park Main Working Group - the group of interested community members which first met in June 2002.

Sports centre

• There is large-scale public support for a new sports centre with modern facilities that is closer to public transport
• The site of the current sports centre should - as much as possible - be returned to parkland

Park generally

• There should be new landscaping, with new and more diverse trees and greater space for wildlife.
• Disability access should be increased

Attractions

• There is extensive dissatisfaction with the concert platform
• The maze should be refurbished

Site of the old Crystal Palace

• Further work needs to be done on deciding the way forward for the top of the park, next to Crystal Palace Parade.

Responding to the statements, LDA Executive Director, Tony Winterbottom, said: "This is a clear message from local people about what they would like in the park. Now we need to establish what to do with the current centre - which is a listed building - as well as what funding is available for a new centre. If we can raise the right levels of investment and funding, the park and sports facilities could undergo major rejuvenation to once again become a major destination for the capital."

Ideas for a new sports centre were displayed in last September's consultation. However, these were early drawings and if a new sports centre was to be built, there would be a design competition.

The LDA and the Mayor of London became involved in Crystal Palace Park when the Olympic Bid helped to focus attention on existing sporting infrastructure. The LDA will take on responsibility for the sports centre next February and has an option to take on the park as a whole by 2009. It will make proposals for the park and sports centre in a planning framework later this year, when there will be another major public consultation.

In the meantime, the LDA will target a range of communities around the local area - including schools - to ensure a wide range of views are represented.

The LDA wants to rejuvenate the park and its facilities to drive the regeneration of surrounding areas, bringing jobs, businesses and benefits to local people - including many living in deprived communities.

For further information: contact Oliver Roberts at the LDA Press Office on 020 7954 4206