Damage caused by a fire at Highbury Leisure Centre

• ON September 25 last year a fire gutted the swimming pool at Highbury Leisure Centre, (Fire brigade send 80 firefighters to tackle blaze at Highbury Leisure Centre).

Viewed from the outside, tiles are still missing from the roof. I was told that the only action taken to repair and reopen the pool was that a month ago a sample of a girder had been taken for testing to establish whether all the girders need replacing.

I emailed Martyn Lewis, contract manager for GLL, contracted by Islington Council to operate Highbury Leisure Centre, only to receive an automatic reply: “I am no longer working for GLL.”

GLL seems content to operate the gym and leisure classes, which bring in more revenue for it than the swimming pool. I have swum at Highbury Pool since it was an open-air pool, and then an indoor pool for many years before other facilities were added.

Swimming is the best single activity for keeping fit and healthy, and many people cannot go to other pools. For GLL to do nothing for nine months is a disgrace. Surely, it has an insurance policy to pay for fire damage.

I urge the council to require GLL to proceed without further delay, failing which it will end GLL’s contracts for all leisure facilities in the borough.

JOHN HANDS
Battledean Road, N5