Barnet’s Labour councillors to support #SaveBarnetDiving campaign at 1 Sep committee
Barnet’s Labour councillors will be supporting the #SaveBarnetDiving campaign when their petition calling for the diving boards to be retained at Copthall Leisure Centre is discussed at Policy & Resources committee on 1 September. The diving boards are currently used by the Tom Daley Diving Academy which coaches 28 local children aged 5-11.
Conservative-run Barnet council is planning to scrap the diving boards whilst spending up to £30 million to redevelop the two council leisure centres in the borough. The cost of re-providing the diving boards is £676,000, but the council argues that the diving facility reduces income from swimming, which means the council has to subsidise the leisure centres.
Labour’s Cllr Alison Moore has submitted a member’s item to the committee asking for a further options appraisal to be done and brought back to the committee to include an option to retain the diving facility alongside expanded swimming facilities. She has also asked for the options appraisal to look at possible alternative funding streams including Sports England and the National Lottery to help keep the diving boards in Barnet.
Over 2,800 people have signed the #SaveBarnetDiving petition.
Cllr Moore said: “The Rio Olympics and the 2012 London Olympics have shown what central and long-term planning and consistent investment can do for Team GB successes, so the decision to scrap the diving facility is short sighted and will crush the dreams of those children already taking diving lessons, working hard and setting their hearts on competing in future Olympic games.
“I say to the Conservative administration councillors – don’t be dream crushers, let’s find a way to deliver the two swimming pools and the diving facility.”