Sobell Refurbishment Update 19 July 2008

From: Barry Hill.

At this meeting (attended by Jeremy Corbyn), Council Officers Bob Gilbert and Mark Christodoulou promised to forward documents relating to costing of refurbishment, etc, to Gordon Kerr (England Squash, Director). Gordon has stated that within 2 weeks of receiving all necessary documents from the Council, his team will produce a detailed, fully costed refurbishment option within the Council budget. To date he has not received any of the promised documentation from the Council.

2. July 16 Public Meeting hosted by the Labour Party

Apparently the Council refused to hold a Public Meeting on this matter – hence the Labour Party Public Meeting. Why is the Council denying Islington residents and Sobell users this forum? Surely they want as much input as possible from all affected by this proposal?

This meeting at Emmanuel Church was attended by approximately 100 local residents and Sobell Users. Also present were Bob Gilbert and Mark Christodoulou from the Council. After a short presentation by Bob Gilbert, and an immediate response from Gordon Kerr , the meeting was thrown open.

Throughout the next 90 minutes only 2 persons stated they expressed a view in favour of redevelopment. All other responses were in favour either of refurbishment or for a balanced consultation that included refurbishment as an option.

Representatives from several Sobell activities were present, including squash, 5-a-side, ice rink and badminton. Thanks to all who attended.

A reporter from the Islington and Camden Gazette was present at the meeting and I have spoken with him.

3. Cross Party Support for Balanced Consultation including Refurbishment.

The proposal for redevelopment affects the whole community of local residents and users and transcends party politics. We have received support from local Labour, Conservative and Green parties.

If anyone knows of any Islington Councillors, regardless of political colour, who are in favour of refurbishment or a balanced consultation with refurbishment as an option, please let me know.

4. Involvement of 20th Century Society.

Following a discussion with a conservation architect, we have made contact with the 20th Century Society. Another Sobell User is in touch with English Heritage.

5. Setting up an SOS (Save our Sobell) website.

Now is the time to co-ordinate views across the full range of Sobell activities and to capitalise on the momentum we have generated so far. Setting up an independent website is an excellent way of doing this. All users, local residents and interested parties can log their support for refurbishment or express that they are in favour of redevelopment.

Hopefully not many for the redevelopment choice but, unlike the Council’s June consultation, we think it best to offer a balanced approach to consultation.

A website with a large hit rate in favour of refurbishment before the Council Executive Meeting in September will have great value and, with the evidence it supplies, we can make it clear to the Council that their current proposal is untenable and that the overwhelming call for refurbishment is not only from local residents but also from centre users across the full range of current Sobell activities.

Anyone who has the expertise and time to help set up such a website please let me know.