Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Finsbury Park Track needs community takeover or faces closure
News picked up via @londonheathside on Twitter:
The council wishes to offload the management of the track to a community group within an initial time frame of 6 months from now. We are currently exploring the possibility of taking on this task in an alliance with the Blitz American Football team. Apart from the very short timescale the main stumbling block is the operating costs, which currently show a loss each year of around £60k. The council's initial stance is not to offer any subsidy to the new management company. John Flahive is leading a project team with the Blitz to see if we can make this financially and practically viable as it will require a large volunteer work force. Unfortunately if a group does not take on this task then the council are threatening to close the facility. Our only other options would be a move to White Hart Lane (which is going through a similar exercise) or Parliment Hill Track which is used by Highgate Harriers. Once we have explored all the options and come to a conclusion the decision to go ahead or otherwise on Finsbury Park will be put to the whole club by means of an Extraordinary AGM.
From London Heathside website
Tags for Forum Posts: althletics, athletics track, finsbury park, finsbury park athletics track
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Omotn on
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I know that personally this would be a considerable nuisance to me. I have documented my geriatric athletics skills and the existence of training facilities so close at hand has helped me tremendously. Lee Valley is a drive and Parliament Hill a longish bike ride, with training at the end - Finsbury Park is but a jog away.
Putting my personal convenience to one side is this an important question. I think so:
- Parks generally - part of the spectacle of the recent Royal Wedding was the greenery so close and the crowds in Hyde and Green Parks - parks generally are an important part of London and should be maintained
- Athletics - this is the year before the London Olympics - part of the legacy should not be a derelict and abandoned track and clubhouse in Finsbury Park
- Obesity - has been described as an epidemic - training and exercise should surely be made more available not less
- Youth Services - I am something of an exception at training nights - most of the athletes are aged from about 11 up to early 20s - under the supervision of older, wiser heads - rather like a youth club
- Public Safety - presumably if the track does not find a new keeper, then the gates will be locked and the doors and windows boarded up, almost like an invitation to graffitists, squatters, vandals and delinquents
- Public Access - one of the options the council is considering is allowing a tenant to take the track and close it to the public
- Appearances - the track is a big part of the Park - if it is abandoned and becomes a blight, then the whole ambience of the park will change
An email setting out the council's position is here
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