The Sobell Leisure Centre

• COUNCIL leader Kaya Comer-Schwartz writes of the London Borough of Islington’s commitment to “…expanding the range of sports on offer” at the Sobell Leisure Centre, (Exciting future of the Sobell centre, Letters, August 4).

Users welcome this; as they do LBI’s promise to create a more equal Islington, with an inclusive range of physical activities for all to enjoy.

Cllr Comer-Schwartz’s letter highlights LBI’s intention of reactivating the existing programme of sports at Sobell, and expanding this to include “handball, paddle tennis, archery, netball, indoor cricket, and hockey”.

This increased diversity is excellent news, with the additional activities supplementing the existing programme at Sobell.

Current main hall activities include badminton, basketball, competition trampolining, indoor five-a-side football, and volleyball.

In other parts of Sobell existing activities include boxing, gym and fitness studios, squash courts, sauna and spa facilities, martial arts (dojo), and outdoor five-a-side football.

This expanded programme of varied physical activities planned by LBI acknowledges the views expressed in the recent user survey.

It is very much in line with the philanthropist Sir Michael Sobell’s original vision for the centre and LBI deserves credit for this in their refurbishment plans.

Currently absent from the sports listed above are those offered through the ice rink with the separate Tribune letter (Ice rink discussion must go on, also August 4) highlighting this as an ongoing debate.

Sobell users also eagerly anticipate the early implementation of the forum mentioned by Cllr Comer-Schwartz, bringing together LBI policy-makers, centre users, residents, and community groups, especially those previously under-represented, to liaise directly to help shape the future of sports and leisure facilities across the borough.

This forum is an innovative way of involving all in shaping future LBI developments, thereby ensuring these reflect users’ expressed preferences.

Ideas for future facilities at Sobell have already been suggested to me and I look forward to sharing these with LBI at the inaugural meeting of this forum in the not-too-distant future.

BARRY HILL
Sobell Voluntary User Representative