Willesden Correspondence

Bill O'Neill has kindly made available correspondence about Willesden Sports Centre with Brent Leisure, Planning and Councillor Jones. He has agreed to the following being published on LCW. 

Sent: 11 September 2002 
To Clifton Jackson, Brent Leisure

WSC is a woefully under-resourced and wasted facility. I've lived nearby for nearly six years, and I'm still astounded by the miserable state of what could be an exceptionally useful centre.

Sent: 13 February 2003 
To: Dave.Carroll, Brent Planning
Subject: Re: Willesden Sports Centre Planning Brief

The centre is certainly dull and dingy, but it does have good facilities - space and pools, and a friendly staff. But in the six years I've lived in the area there's rarely been any attempt or initiative to exploit the resources, let alone actually encourage customers to get more involved.

The changing rooms are mucky and worn out, and regular battlegrounds for unsupervised teenagers; showers are poor (even though they were recently refurbished) and toilets generally disgusting.

People freely wander around the poolside in their outdoor shoes at a time when other centres are actively insisting that customers remove shoes before entering the *changing areas* …

During the two or three years of private management, there's never enough staff to open the second indoor pool (for young children/families), let alone open it to a timetable…

The cafe area is a disgrace and the fitness room uninviting (at a time when other places are establishing their credibility on the "coolness" of their gyms). Organising children's parties at the centre is a depressing experience; there's so much that could be done to make it a thriving business, but no interest whatsoever (beyond leasing out the small pool)…

Private management has done nothing to improve the running of the centre - in fact, the centre's primary assets (its staff) seem to be in shorter supply. While I've (very much) welcomed the earlier opening time during the week (6.30am) and I see the releasing of one lane for public swimming during the morning (from schools) as an encouraging move, these are costly initiatives against the downside imposed by staff shortages especially when those initiatives would have been introduced anyway.

From: Bill O'Neill              To: Councillor Lesley Jones
Sent: 24 May 2004          Subject: Willesden Sports Centre

Dear Cllr Jones,

As chair of Brent's environment and leisure committee, could you explain how and why the opening hours of Willesden Sports Centre are to be so severely restricted from the beginning of June?...

Replacement of the centre has been so disgracefully mismanaged from the outset that it's difficult to believe that things could get much worse... but they have.

I gather the centre is now not scheduled to close until the end of August - an extension to the end of the school holidays that should be cause for minor celebration. But at the same time you are restricting opening hours from next week (beginning of June).

Out goes early-bird swimming, from 6.30am on weekdays. At weekends, the pool's busiest period in summer, the centre will open for only three hours - from 9am to 12am on Saturdays. From July, just as school holidays get underway, the pool also opens later and closes earlier.

How much money do you save at the expense of our children's fitness and well-being?

From: Councillor Lesley Jones    To: Bill O'Neill
Sent: 24 May 2004 12:04    Subject: Re: Willesden Sports Centre

Dear Mr O'Neill

I appreciate the difficulties that the closure will cause some users, but I really cannot agree that the replacement of the centre has been mismanaged. The delay is due to the PFI banks taking time to agree to the complex fine detail and not to a lack of effort by Council officers and the Leisure Connection consortium. Similar delays have affected another London Council's redevelopment plans as well. (Preferred Bidder status was awarded in August 2003. Did Brent learn any lessons from delays elsewhere? Are the delays similar in type or length or both?  PB)

Officers have arranged relocations for clubs and groups. Examples include
the Dolphin Club, and elders and special needs swimming groups to both public and private pools, with funding support from the Council to meet additional costs and assistance with transport. All 'dry' sports groups have been found satisfactory alternative locations. More casual users are being signposted to alternative locations through a centre newsletter and web pages. Leisure Connection will provide a casual school holiday activity programme during the summer.

Because of the delay, some Leisure Connection staff have left and it has become increasingly difficult to keep the centre open with the correct staffing levels. In addition, a number of the clubs and groups are relocating ahead of the closure date.

As a result of the above a considerable level of usage will finish at the end of June. In addition, other usage has already dropped off as people start to move elsewhere. It was therefore a practical decision to reduce the centre hours from June. Savings from the closure will be used to support the relocation needs of groups and clubs as above. 

From: Bill O'Neill    To: Lesley Jones
Sent: 24 May 2004      Subject: RE: Willesden Sports Centre

...the closure causes difficulties for *all* users - and as a regular (family) user of the 
centre, I haven't heard anyone (customer or staff) talk contentedly about any alternative arrangements... 

...*effective* public consultation has been minimal, as usual in Brent... 

...if by "Dolphin Club" you mean the "Brent Dolphins Swimming Club", I can speak from direct personal involvement -- there isn't a local borough swimming club that has been more shabbily treated...

...your cost-saving/cutting agenda is another slap in the face for local people...

But thanks for your prompt response, appreciated...

From: Lesley Jones   To: Bill O'Neill
Sent: 01 June 2004   Subject: Re: Willesden Sports Centre

Dear Mr O'Neill

For information. 

I have requested a Sunday opening for the pool, 10 am - 1 pm, as there were
quite a few requests for this. If usage during this time is very low, we might have to reconsider.

The sports team will be offering activities for children during the summer
holidays.

From: Bill O'Neill    To: Councillor Lesley Jones
Sent: 04 June 2004   Subject: RE: Willesden Sports Centre

…it's sad that you're clearly unaware of feelings about WSC and its management... my views come from using the pool fairly regularly and being involved in Brent Dolphins for almost four years)...have you talked to the staff, and what they think about the company running the centre, as an employer...

It seems to us (my partner and me) that Brent Council wants to push those folk who can afford it into private sports centres... those who can't afford better will be happy with whatever they get (and won't complain)...