MY VIEW: Letter by Trevor Hutton of the Save Skating In Streatham group (From Streatham Guardian)
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MY VIEW: Letter by Trevor Hutton of the Save Skating In Streatham group
10:00am Saturday 7th July 2012 in News
We are concerned that the Tesco led Hub development has suffered from under investment by Tesco’s and has been limited in size by the need to provide space for a Public Realm area in front of it, a token Public Square, a far cheaper option than maximising the land space available to the footprint of the leisure centre.
Our main worry remains the delivery and collection of the Ice Resurfacing machines (Zambonis) the access point for these is a doorway just 10ft wide by 8ft high some 21ft above ground level, this locks these machines into the ice rink and prevents the occasional dumping of ice outside if the ice pit become full, leading to loss of ice time and revenue. Warnings were given by Bradford Ice Arena, who have had this situation for 16 years, to avoid this, a ramp or service lift would avoid this and would have also provided access for deliveries, of plant, materials, supplies and props, but no this will not happen we are assured a method statement has been approved as satisfactory by the Operator, we are concerned the massive cost of using a crane every time a Zamboni needs to be delivered or collected for repair or replacement, will be prohibitive to the operators. This is not a sensible option as the life of a Zamboni is about 12 years requiring many replacements during the estimated 60 year life span of the centre.
We are also told that there will not be a Sauna or Steam room, we had them in the old centre, and shouldn’t we get like for like if not, why not? And why are solar panels rejected as not necessary? Will parking be free? We don’t know, will session times be protected? Uncertain and will we get new Zamboni’s? Unlikely.
We are being short changed as we are not getting the State of the Art Regional facility we were promised, contrary to what Lambeth Officers and Tesco’s are trying to portray to all of us.
Trevor Hutton, Save Skating In Streatham
