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Why change the culture of a sporting success story?
• COUNCILLOR Flick Rea’s letter (We have no plans to sell off sports centre, March 26) leaves me somewhat perplexed.
She says the “sell-off” of Talacre will never happen. What she left out was that the council are now investigating that the centre is to be “palmed off” to Greenwich Leisure Ltd.
Talacre has been open for six years. It is the most successful example of social regeneration through leisure activity in the borough. In fact the community social cohesion and inclusion that I have witnessed is an exemplar for London itself.
The diversity of people using the centre is testament to the excellent way in which Talacre has been envisioned, managed and staffed over the years.
Most of the staff, coaching, operational or administrative, have provided the residents of Camden with a friendly and professional continuity that is rare in the provision of leisure services in Camden.
My son has had the same instructor for over five years and a professional and personal interest is taken in his sporting achievements and development. Some of the children at Talacre have been trained by the same coaches since the centre opened six years ago.
The management and staff of the centre have not only nurtured and developed sportsmen and woman but created social bonds in and between the centre staff, the children and adults who participate in the sporting activities as well as the parents who regularly turn up as spectators and involve themselves on a regular basis. This community bonding is a success story in itself. Why should this be changed?
According to Cllr Rea streamlining or “palming off” is an important consideration for the council. She intends that they examine “whether the operational management of the centre should be taken on by GLL in the way that all Camden’s other sports centres are managed”. What she leaves out is that the council wishes to change the “culture” of Talacre. A change in operational management certainly means a change in “culture”. This means a change from “provision” to “profit”. A change from “social catalyst”, “continuity” and “community cohesion” to commerce.
The character and traditions built up in this diverse community at Talacre over the past six years is now being threatened by political expediency and a lack of sensitivity of real “community” values and positive community actions by council employees and Cllr Rea’s considerations.
Any changes to include GLL – a “social enterprise” – in a partnership with the council to operate Talacre will be met with fierce opposition by the Talacre community.
Local politicians who advocate profit sharing on leisure provision at Talacre for social enterprise partners are not welcome either.
Our Talacre community are adamant that Cllr Rea’s “review” is a gloss word for “cultural change” but then political change is also cultural.
The marginal wards of Haverstock and Kentish Town in which Talacre is situated are the strongholds of our Talacre community where our community bonds are strong and unshakable.
Cllr Rea should realise that if any changes are made to the “culture” of Talacre then there is every chance that the Talacre community will make political changes in Camden at the earliest opportunity.
ANDRE PAUL FRANCOIS,
NW5
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