Brent swimming pool campaign grows

A Campaign for a new Brent swimming pool is gathering momentum after a survey revealed the borough's facilities are the second worst in London.

At the moment there are two public pools in the borough, which is one pool to every 135,000 people living in Brent.

What's more, nearly 60 per cent of residents wanting to take a dip have to walk more than 20 minutes just to get to a public swimming bath.

Brent Council said it has made building a new pool in the north of the borough one of its top sporting priorities and said Queensbury residents believed Roe Green Park would be its natural home.

Deputy council leader, Councillor Bob Blackman, has given his backing for a pool in the park, which is near Kingsbury Station, and previously had an open-air swimming pool in the 1980s. He said: "We desperately need another pool in the north of the borough and Roe Green Park seems to be an ideal place for this."

Councillor Kanta Mistry, Conservative who represents Queensbury, said: "I have been lobbying for a swimming pool in Roe Green for a long time and it is incredibly important that we increase sports facilities in our area and give young people a focus to go to. Roe Green Park has already benefited from an open air pool in the past and would be the perfect site."

However, Councillor Ann John, leader of the Labour Group, supports the need for a pool in the north of the borough, but does not believe Roe Green Park is the best place.

She said: "I remember Kingsbury Swimming Pool because I used to go there when I was a child.

"It closed because it was expensive to maintain and councils were in financial difficulty. For 20 years it stood unused and it was an eyesore. Two children also drowned in it after it was closed. If there is a campaign I don't think Roe Green Park is the best place. Residents wouldn't want a stand-alone pool in the middle of the park which would encroach upon the green space.

"There has to be a comprehensive scheme which will provide a lot of facilities for the community and I donÕt think the council has the capital to do this."