Agenda item

To receive the report of the Park Manager, Alexandra Palace, detailing proposals for an Adizone outdoor Gym. Officers from the London Borough of Haringey Parks Service will present the proposals to the Committee.

The Committee received a presentation by Paul Ely (LB Haringey Recreation Service – Policy Development Manager) on proposals for an adiZone outdoor gym facility to be installed on the Newland Road playing field, in the south eastern corner of Alexandra Park, 45 metres from the edge of the Park and abutting Newland Road.  Mr Ely was joined by Beverley Huie (LB Haringey Interim Neighbourhood Manager Crouch End Hornsey & Stroud Green) and Martin Hall (LB Haringey - Recreation Service - Open Space Performance & Programming Officer) to answer questions raised by the Committee.

The adiZones were multi-sports facilities, with 15-20 year life-spans, created in the shape of the Olympic logo by Adidas as part of its sponsorship of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games.  Schools would be encouraged to use the equipment as would play-schemes during school holidays but other adiZone schemes showed that older people made full, and regular, use of the equipment.

The Council would be required to sign a maintenance contract with Adidas, and Alexandra Palace would require the area to be maintained under licence including daily, weekly, quarterly and yearly checks.  There would be no cost to the Palace.  The £150k cost of the equipment would be split between the Government (in partnership with Adidas) and the Council through a Section 106 Agreement by funding secured during development of the New River Village. 

Committee members questioned whether there would be scope to secure a better deal on funding given the amount of advertising Adidas would receive.

In response to their concerns about the cost of maintaining the structure Committee members were informed that maintenance for the first year was free and would cost £2700 per year subsequently.  The Committee wanted a guarantee that the resources would be made available to maintain the equipment for 15-20 years and that the costs would not fall to the Palace. 

Councillor Whyte expressed concerns from Hornsey Ward constituents as to how the site would be supervised. The site was hidden away and access was not from a main road. Mr Hall explained that the site was already heavily policed.  It was not anticipated that anti-social behaviour would increase as a result of the adiZone being installed.

Committee members were strongly of the view that consultation should take place with the local police as well as the residents in Newland Road and in the immediate adjoining locality. A consultation should be meeting should be held at Campsbourne School. Mr Hall and Ms Huie explained that, whilst informal consultation had already occurred, by means of conversations with local residents, local residents would also be formally consulted as part of the planning application process.

Other concerns raised by Committee Members concerned the nature of the structure as providing advertising in a metropolitan open area and that the shape and size of the structure would detract from what was a conservation area.

In response to concerns raised about vandalism of the equipment, officers explained that the equipment had already been installed in 5 Boroughs which were amongst the most deprived in the country and there had been no evidence of vandalism. 

The Chair concluded that the Committee supported the proposal in principle but were concerned about the following points

(1) security issues; (2) the structure would have a negative aesthetic impact on the historic park; (3) wider consultation was required and (4)  that there would be on-going costs to Haringey and the potential financial implications for the Palace, in the longer term.

RESOLVED

That the comments made by the Advisory Committee be considered and noted by the Board.