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SWIMMING POOL LATEST!!LOCAL RESIDENTS POOL MEETINGOpen to the publicOrganised by the Biggin Hill Society Date: Wednesday 26th March Time: 8pm Venue: WI Hall
SWIMMING POOLPlanning documents are now available in Biggin Hill library and I have a copy in school.Objections/views need to be lodged with the council by next Thursday 27th MarchThere is no doubt that the siting of the pool at the library will be a blow for all those 11-19 year olds who could have swimming as part of their secondary curriculum but will be unable to do so if the pool is not hosted on the school site. Families will have their own views of course. I urge all families to look at the plans and then write to the council with their views (this is public consultation after all). Apathy will be taken as acceptance. If you feel you support the case I am making (see below) on behalf of the school then please write to: Address your letters to: Town Planning …and quote the reference number 08/00771 on the envelope …and ensure the following goes on the letter: Proposed Biggin Hill
Leisure Complex Ref: 08/00771 Below is my letter to the Council when the plans were being discussed. This details my initial concerns. I have subsequently received further information which I will be publishing on this website within the next 24 hours or so.
LETTER TO COUNCIL sent on 1/10/2007Dear Mr. Hayward,On the agenda of the Environment and Leisure Portfolio Holder Meeting (Tuesday 2 October) is the proposed siting of a swimming pool in Biggin Hill. I would like the Portfolio Holder to be made aware of this letter and ask that he take the following factors into consideration at the meeting. I believe that the proposal for siting the pool at the library rather than attached to the Darwin Leisure Centre is ill advised for the following reasons: Finance Capital Finance Revenue The Survey Regular (once a week) swimmers amount to approximately 800 respondents. Of these 46%, roughly 370, prefer the library site on the mistaken assumption that there would be no day-time usage at the school. The respondents (mistakenly) believed that they could not swim between 9am and 3pm for the 39 weeks when the school is in session. The majority of the people who, according to the survey, favour the library site are in the age bracket when they no longer have children of school age. Yet these youngsters are the very people who represent the future of the community as well as the future of the pool. As there was no direct consultation with pre-school, primary or secondary school groups, there is a danger that undue weight is given to the views of a minority group of predominantly older residents. The issue of day-time access has I feel been over-played and I would therefore suggest that a way forward would be to draw up a clear agreement with the school, guaranteeing daytime access at agreed fixed times for local recreational swimming and organised activities. Long term
community use/benefits At a time when local swimming organisers are decrying the lack of facilities for schools (see Daily Telegraph letter August 2007 from a Bromley swimming club official), let alone Olympic aspirations, surely we should be targeting our young people. We should be doing everything in our power to encourage active participation in sport from a young age, certainly throughout school years, as that is where healthy habits can form a lifetime of sporting participation. As for community use of the facility on the school site, it would be built into any daytime programme (and the same would be true for our local primary schools).This has been the case with current dual use facilities and I would therefore wish to clarify at this point that the use of dry-side facilities by the public has been a long-standing feature of this provision and is not “a significant departure from existing practice”. Whilst it is true that the sports hall and gym (which are minimum requirements for a secondary school of our size) are not able to be available to the public during school time, the fitness gym is and it has a history of public day-time access for such things as GP referrals. Security/Social
issues The area by the current library is currently a venue for teenage groups in the evening. Whilst the police and the PCSOs do a wonderful job, the attraction to youngsters of a welcoming public building will increase potential problems. Youngsters “hanging around” would not do the image of the pool any good and would also appear potentially threatening to less confident members of the public. The history of the Leisure Centre is one of a safe and secure environment. Parking/Traffic
flow Furthermore car parking at the library is limited and would only be accommodated by cutting into the recreational grounds. Green space/green belt would be sacrificed to tarmac. The school site on the other hand would deflect cars from the centre and its potential traffic jams. Some development of the parking facilities would be required but this can be accommodated within the current footprint of the school site. I am aware that the public consultation exercise produced a preference for the library site. The views of the people should of course be listened to and then carefully evaluated. I am mindful of the work and support of local councillors to bring this long awaited project to Biggin Hill. Everyone, I am sure, wants it to succeed and be a legacy for the town. It would be a pity to see it turn into a millstone around councillors’ necks and the undoubted gratitude of the local community evaporate for the above reasons. Yours sincerely, |
Darwin Football Club












