Barnet council’s Policy & Resources committee (P&R) has agreed to look at retaining a diving facility at Copthall Leisure Centre after the #SaveBarnetDiving campaign presented their petition of 3,700+ signatures to last night’s meeting (1 Sep).
In a member’s item to the Committee Labour councillor and committee member, Alison Moore, called for a further options appraisal to be brought back to the committee that includes the diving boards alongside the proposed expanded swimming facilities.
The diving boards are currently used by the Tom Daley Diving Academy which coaches 28 local children aged 5-11, and a scuba diving club.
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 councillors highlighted at the meeting that the current proposals will bring in around £1.5m additional income per year, and that it is possible to integrate the diving boards in the proposed learner/training pool with a movable floor without reducing space for swimming. They have asked the Conservative administration to provide the financial projections which they say show the diving facility is not viable, but have not published.
Labour councillors also pointed out that the consultation results did not accurately reflect the level of interest in diving that had emerged as a result of the #SaveBarnetDiving campaign, and that the decision to withdraw the diving facility therefore needed to be reviewed.
Following last night’s meeting, further options will now be brought back to the next Policy & Resources Committee on 5th October.
Cllr Moore said: “I welcome the decision to have another look at the options for diving. It is now quite clear that the consultation results that informed the decision to withdraw the facility in no way accurately reflect the level of interest in diving in the Borough.
“The #SaveBarnetDiving petitioners presented their case eloquently about just how important diving is to these children’s lives.
“We need to be supporting the dreams of Barnet children who have set their hearts on competing in future Olympic games – not crushing them.”
East Finchley Labour councillor, Arjun Mittra, also addressed the committee, saying: “I was lobbied at my surgery by a school aged constituent who attends the diving pool, who asked me to represent him at this meeting and give him a voice.
“He was enthused to diving by the London Olympics in 2012, took up the sport and hasn’t looked back since. It has become a real joy and focus for his life, and who knows where his talents may take him, if only we can keep giving him the opportunities?
“I urge this committee to continue to provide the opportunities for our children and residents to excel. If we want to live up to our motto of “putting the community first” then we have to have some ambition, and take the plunge…”