Brent Council leader hints at Roe Green Park swimming pool plans (From Harrow Times)

Brent Council leader hints at Roe Green Park swimming pool plans

10:18am Monday 29th December 2008

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A SWIMMING pool campaign has been given a boost after hints Brent Council is siding with residents about a possible site.

The authority has made building a new pool in the north of the borough the priority of its sports policy and people living in Kingsbury and Queensbury say it should be built in their area.

Residents say there is not enough for young people to do and point to Roe Green Park as a place where the sport has traditionally found a home.

There used to be an open air pool at the park, used by the community and pupils from nearby Kingsbury High School, until it was eventually filled in.

Councillor Paul Lorber, leader of the council, said: "I think there's always been talk about something on the Kingsbury site. I think people have a site in mind in Kingsbury, it's now just about finding the money."

Councillor Kanta Mistry (Cons, Queensbury) says people living in the area are worried about anti-social behaviour by young people who have nowhere to go to play sports.

She said: "This is fantastic news, I've been lobbying like mad for a swimming pool. All we keep getting is housing and developments and nothing for the kids and nothing for sports."

Nigel Jamieson, deputy head of Kingsbury High School, says he remembers holding swimming galas at the old site when he first started as a young teacher.

Since then he has lobbied the council on several occassions for a replacement to be built but so far with no success.

He said: “Obviously we'd be delighted to have such a facility in Kingsbury.

"The opportunities for young people in the area are limitted and to have such a centre would just be so welcome and so well used both in the evening and the day time."

Cllr Lorber said the authority is hoping for Government investment in the project and will itself be lobbying for cash as soon as opportunities arise.

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