Willesden Sports Centre - The Reality after the Hype

The new Willesden centre opened in November 2006 at a cost of £16 million plus. There may be a lot of plus because the centre is a  Private Finance Initiative.  Here's what Graham Farrant, Chief Executive of LC promised in January 2006. 

"The PFI project in Brent will enable the council to provide and offer a brand new first class leisure and sporting facility to people near and far.  PFI projects enable local authorities and their communities to effectively enjoy the benefits associated with investing in leisure and working with a leisure operator will enable partners to focus their resource elsewhere and enjoy the synergy effect." http://www.leisureconnection.co.uk/news/2/17/brent-council-and-leisure-connection-provide-london-borough-with-a-16-million-sporting-haven.html

As no council reports had appeared thirteen months after the new Willesden Sports Centre opened, despite the continuing issues with LC at Vale Farm,   I requested a summary of customer complaints and minutes of the meetings between Brent Council and LC between March and August 2007. Also requested were notes made by Council Officers on inspection visits. These have not been supplied and no explanation provided as to why they should be exempt from FOI.

Maintenance & Snagging Issues 

 Minutes of LC & Brent Council meeting on 26 March state, "Building defects still a problem and systems have been reviewed to drive McAlpine to complete works by agreed deadlines."

On 23 April "JH chasing McAlpine to make sure all defects are sorted. EMCOR (who have maintenance contract) have arranged a meeting to put pressure onto McAlpine." At 14 May  McAlpine to have all the major snagging issues solved by the end of May." This includes an air conditioner "still causing problems as it keeps cutting out".

Yet on 6 June "Snagging meeting arranged for 11/06 to try to move along the building defects" and an issue listed last month - shelves in disabled toilets - still not done. On 2 July the meeting notes "shelves for disabled changing room not very good. JH has had to raise them on the snagging list again." Other snagging issues include, "hand driers, disabled door lock, and still not put a solid screen up in females changing area." 

On 16 July the minutes reveal frustration with McAlpine. "It was suggested by XXX that she should get onto the press to put pressure on the building contractors to finish off jobs. However, JH explained that this will only give Willesden Sports Centre bad press. JH to inform McAlpine with the fact that press may be informed." For Willesden Sports Centre read the parlous reputations of LC and Brent Council and sod the users and council tax payers who are being short-changed by defects.

 The minutes of 22 August include, "JH raised that McAlpine still haven't finished work on the defects. JH to arrange another meeting to talk about the issues." Other maintenance issues include, "Lights went down due to building defect… Hair dryers keep breaking down and EMCOR have to replace them weekly… Drinking fountain in the health suite have problems as they don't have the drainage… Air Con in the dojo went down… Leak in roof still not fixed… Turnstiles are not fit for purpose…"  No plumbing for a drinking fountain - who was responsible for that design cock up? Turnstiles not fit  for purpose - why were they chosen? Fit for profiteering?

McAlpine also  built a PFI leisure centre in Lewisham that is managed by LC. Does anyone have information on how this has progressed?  

Is LC also planning to use "slow hand Alf" for the new centre they are involved in at Cambourne?

Alfred McAlpine are welcome to send a link to their own website to be included on this page. PB