Labour Hits the Buffers Over Streatham Hub

3.28.00pm GMT Fri 5th Feb 2010

Streatham's leisure centre flagship enterprise known as the Streatham Hub is now thought to have reached a crisis point between the Council and Tesco.

And local Lib Dem Councillors fear that Labour, out of sheer desperation, may renege on long-held promises made to residents and Ice Rink users to maintain the existing ice facilities until a new facility is built and open.

So far - and with a twice delayed public meeting slated for Wednesday 10th February - it is not clear whether the current impasse can be broken in time.

What will anger many frustrated onlookers is Labour's dithering over an entire period of nearly four years in office to finally broker a deal with the supermarket giant following an in-principal planning approval in 2003 to a scheme to build a new combined swimming pool, leisure centre and ice rink in new state-of-the-art facilities on the site of the redundant bus garage.

That scheme underpinned the public commitment made to maintain continuity of ice skating in Streatham which has provided a unique sports and leisure facility that draws people from all over south London and beyond into the area and provides one of the few remaining outlets for young people to enjoy.

Now the Council-owned Leisure Centre and Swimming Pool next door which closed suddenly last November lies empty, derelict and abandoned with its roof about to collapse and a repair bill rumoured to cost many millions - as a sad metaphor for Labour neglect.

Liberal Democrat Leader Cllr Ashley Lumsden said, "I fear the position is very precarious indeed. Either Tesco will walk away and simply close the Ice Rink, or Lambeth will let them demolish all the existing buildings, which many people cherish, to build their supermarket with no guarantee of any replacement leisure facilities. What kind of choice is that?"

Cllr Lumsden added, "Labour has handled this key regeneration project appallingly badly and seems to have no 'Plan B' in mind. Streatham residents will never forgive Labour for failing to save our ice rink."