Hackney Council plans to demolish Britannia Leisure Centre and build luxury flats.
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The Council announced plans to demolish the Britannia Leisure Centre, and replace it with 400 luxury flats in 2016. The demolition plans prompted the start of a petition by local residents, who believed that luxury flats would create a “concrete jungle”.
The demolition plans prompted the start of a petition by local residents, who believed that luxury flats would create a “concrete jungle”.
We interviewed the pioneer of the petition, Pat Turnbull, has lived and used the Britannia Leisure Centre for thirty-seven years. She has lived in Hackney for around forty years.
She explains her personal relationship with the leisure centre by saying that her son’s first job was at this centre, and she still attends over-50s swimming classes there regularly.
She told City News how she feels about the ongoing campaign…
PAT: I have lived in Hackney for around forty years, and my kids used to use this leisure centre, my son had his first job here, and I still come to the over-50s swimming classes.
How long has Britannia Leisure Centre been here? Why is it important to you?
PAT: It’s been here for thirty-seven years, and it is very important as it was built at a time when people felt left out of developments. Since it was built, it is very well-used and popular. It also has a leisure pool which is unlike just any swimming pool, which is very popular. And it has loads of other facilities, for every sport, all ages, and all backgrounds.
Is it true the Council refurbished the centre in the last few years?
PAT: Yes, in 2016, £300,000 was spent on refurbishment, but the plan is still to knock it down and build 400 luxury flats there instead. There will be a large, dense development instead of this useful community facility which doesn’t impinge on anyone.
Why do you think the plans are continuing in that case?
PAT: They’re now saying they’ll build a new centre on the park, but we believe that’s just a response to the campaign. But we think the real reason is that this piece of land has the potential to make a lot of money. They want to make money for luxury flats.
So what is happening tomorrow?
PAT: Tomorrow is a pre-planning meeting with the Council; we are going to go along to find out the latest stage of their plan, so we are well-informed of their proposed details. People who live there will have to look out on a concrete jungle – at the moment they have a green car park and unobtrusive leisure centre.
What are you hoping to achieve in the long run?
PAT: We want the council to see how bad these plans are for the area. Having 600 luxury dwellings will drive up the price of homes, drive up the rents for businesses, and drive people out of the area. What’s going to happen is that there will be a gap between very wealthy people in luxury flats, and other people who are going to be impoverished. We are hoping in the end the council sees sense…and that is why we carry on.
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HeadlineInterview: Pat Turnbull’s campaign to Save Britannia Leisure Centre
Short HeadlineCampaign to save Britannia Leisure Centre
Standfirst
The Council announced plans to demolish the Britannia Leisure Centre, and replace it with 400 luxury flats in 2016. The demolition plans prompted the start of a petition by local residents, who believed that luxury flats would create a “concrete jungle”.
The demolition plans prompted the start of a petition by local residents, who believed that luxury flats would create a “concrete jungle”.
We interviewed the pioneer of the petition, Pat Turnbull, has lived and used the Britannia Leisure Centre for thirty-seven years. She has lived in Hackney for around forty years.
She explains her personal relationship with the leisure centre by saying that her son’s first job was at this centre, and she still attends over-50s swimming classes there regularly.
She told City News how she feels about the ongoing campaign…
PAT: I have lived in Hackney for around forty years, and my kids used to use this leisure centre, my son had his first job here, and I still come to the over-50s swimming classes.
How long has Britannia Leisure Centre been here? Why is it important to you?
PAT: It’s been here for thirty-seven years, and it is very important as it was built at a time when people felt left out of developments. Since it was built, it is very well-used and popular. It also has a leisure pool which is unlike just any swimming pool, which is very popular. And it has loads of other facilities, for every sport, all ages, and all backgrounds.
Is it true the Council refurbished the centre in the last few years?
PAT: Yes, in 2016, £300,000 was spent on refurbishment, but the plan is still to knock it down and build 400 luxury flats there instead. There will be a large, dense development instead of this useful community facility which doesn’t impinge on anyone.
Why do you think the plans are continuing in that case?
PAT: They’re now saying they’ll build a new centre on the park, but we believe that’s just a response to the campaign. But we think the real reason is that this piece of land has the potential to make a lot of money. They want to make money for luxury flats.
So what is happening tomorrow?
PAT: Tomorrow is a pre-planning meeting with the Council; we are going to go along to find out the latest stage of their plan, so we are well-informed of their proposed details. People who live there will have to look out on a concrete jungle – at the moment they have a green car park and unobtrusive leisure centre.
What are you hoping to achieve in the long run?
PAT: We want the council to see how bad these plans are for the area. Having 600 luxury dwellings will drive up the price of homes, drive up the rents for businesses, and drive people out of the area. What’s going to happen is that there will be a gap between very wealthy people in luxury flats, and other people who are going to be impoverished. We are hoping in the end the council sees sense…and that is why we carry on.
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