South London residents say ‘it’s about time’ as sport centre ‘rotting away’ set for huge renovations
South London locals welcomed the improvements planned for the National Sports Center at Crystal Palace, claiming the space is currently a “joke” and appears to be “rotting”. The Mayor of London announced last week that he was making a number of improvements to the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre.
The investment, reportedly worth millions, will focus on repairing the outdoor athletics track and replacing the existing floodlights. The interior features such as the gym, climbing walls and a potential children’s activity center will also be upgraded.
Oliver Isaac, 20, lives in Biggin Hill but said he and his family often come to Crystal Palace Park to walk the dog. As a kid who used to frequent the park, he said it was “about time” the sports center got an update.
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Mr Isaac told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I’m pleased to hear that. I’ve been coming here since I was a little kid, so it’s nice to see they’re finally fixing everything. It’s like watching something rot.
The handler said it was “depressing” to see parks and amenities from his childhood decay over the years. He said he feels many public spaces in the area need a wave of gentrification to bring interest back to them.
He said: “This place looks like it’s still in the 60’s… I kept walking past it, I saw a few things here. I can’t say I’ve ever used it, but if you leave a building long enough, it becomes an eyesore.”
A long-term investment over the next five years was also announced on May 26 to, among other things, rebuild the structure of the center’s swimming pools. The 50 meter and diving pools have been closed since March 2020 due to a leak from a crack.
Andy Show, 42, lives at Crystal Palace and said he has found the pools closing “frustrating”. Still, he said he appreciates the new investment and that any news is “good news.”
Mr Show told the LDRS: “It’s a bit of a joke… It’s a shame. This place is the jewel of Crystal Palace, isn’t it? It’s an attraction.
He added: “It’s good that something is moving forward [athletics] The track will benefit a lot of people, which is great. The pool is my number one priority. That it just stands there empty is crazy. It’s been about three years.”
A spokesman for the Mayor of London said in a statement that a planning application for a major refurbishment of the center would be submitted by April 2024, with long-term investment in repairs expected to be in the tens of millions. Mr Show said he is a supporter of all the facilities at the center and believes they attract athletes from across the UK to the region.
He said: “It just takes money from somewhere. You can see it’s a 1960’s or 70’s build and I don’t think a penny has been spent on it since.”
Jeshan Shrestha, 35, and his wife Gina, 28, live in Croydon after moving from Nepal three years ago and come to Crystal Palace for walks. Mr Shrestha said he believed young people would benefit from upgrades to the running track and football pitch.
He told the LDRS, “Of course, if they get that opportunity from a young age, when they grow up they’re going to be a very competent player.” In my country, we get that when we go pro, apart from that we have to play outside in the garden.”
A spokesman for the Crystal Palace Sports Partnership told LDRS that they were pleased to hear of the mayor’s investment in the venue. They said the partnership had campaigned for repairs at the center since 2014 and believe the partial closure was due to a “controlled decline” of the facilities.
Crystal Palace Sports Partnership’s John Powell MBE told LDRS: “I just hope this isn’t a pre-election campaign by the mayor. There’s a mayoral election next May and we all know how politicians behave leading up to the election.”
A spokesman for the Mayor of London told LDRS that initial improvements to the site had been planned while long-term renovation plans were being developed. They also said a “significant” budget had been allocated for the redevelopment, ensuring the center’s future for years to come.
They said: “The Mayor recognizes that the National Sports Center is a vital sporting and community facility for the capital and country, where many British sports stars began their careers and trained to succeed.” Refurbishment of the site and its future security for the coming decades. The center was built in the 1960s and investigations have shown that some of the structural elements of the building are now in need of complete replacement.”
Labor Councilor Ryan Thomson, who represents Crystal Palace and Anerley Boroughs for Bromley Council, told LDRS the center was a huge source of local pride given its sporting history. He said many residents played or learned to swim in this area as children, and locals have taken their own children to the center ever since.
Cllr Thomson told LDRS: “We are delighted with the Mayor of London’s announcement as it ensures this opportunity for future generations and ensures they too have the opportunity to create valuable lifelong memories at the NSC, although a special thanks also to which Crystal is due.” Palace Sports Partnership. They have fought tirelessly to protect the center over the years and even inspired our own campaign to save the NPC.
“With this news from the Mayor, coupled with the huge investment already planned for our beloved Crystal Palace Park, it certainly is a very exciting time to be a Palacian!”
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