Winter - Norwood Paragon

BLAH
and make its future as a multi-sport facility financially
secure. Herne Hill is a unique part of Britain’s sporting
heritage and it is famous around the world. Its history
stretches back to the late 19th century and the track
saw action in 1948 London Olympics. It is cycling’s
equivalent to Wembley or Wimbledon.
Last year its premier event, the Good Friday track
meeting, celebrated its centenary with world champion
and Olympic cyclists drawing record capacity crowds.
Our 2004 Olympic medal winning cyclist Bradley
Wiggins grew up riding on Herne Hill. We want other
young athletes to have the same opportunities.
Our regeneration plan has been given outline planning
consent. The aim is to improve the existing
Velodrome in a way that will not only safeguard its
future as a centre of cycling excellence, but will also
broaden its appeal and value to local residents, schools
and Londoners generally.
The plans include an all-weather perimeter cover
for the track itself, gym facilities, ecological
landscaping and a superb indoor climbing centre, a
facility currently not available in S-E London. The
Trust’s vision for renewal will benefit the whole
community.
The latest news
First, thanks to all of you who have e-mailed your
support to the London Velodrome Trust website and
the Dulwich Estate. We've had brilliant support from
all of you, plus supportive letters from local MPs,
including Tessa Jowell, Simon Hughes and others,
Valerie Shawcross at the Greater London Authority,
British Cycling, Sport England plus London 2012.
This has resulted in some positive movement from
The Dulwich Estate, less than the LVT has requested
and might reasonably expect, but which is positive in
the short term. The negotiation of arrangements
between the LVT and the Estate to both guarantee
Good Friday 2005 the rest of the season are ongoing
and looking positive.
Thank Tessa Jowell and say that like her you're
passionate about sport. It would be helpful if you
could all e-mail Tessa Jowell the local MP at her
constituency office, at jowellt@parliament.uk, copied
to mail@londonvelodrome.org letting her know how
much you appreciate her support for Herne Hill,
particularly those that live in her constituency.
Current position
The London Velodrome Trust's home page http://
www.londonvelodrome.org/summarises the current
position. The Trust is working to re-open the track as
soon as legal agreements can be put in place, and to
subsequently engage positively with the new lessee to
secure a viable future for cycling.
Re-opening Herne Hill track
This can only happen once arrangements to allow the
LVT to re-open the Velodrome are in place between
the Dulwich Estate, their proposed new lessees,
Southwark Council, and the London Velodrome Trust
- the Dulwich Estate say the end of February for this -
but offer no guarantees.
The likely commercial deal. This is certain to be
conditional on the preferred commercial leisure
operator achieving a planning consent for a viable
commercial leisure development of the Velodrome site
(perhaps including adjacent Dulwich Estate land too).
As Metropolitan Open Land the development
options will be constrained by Southwark and the
Greater London Authority’s planning development
policies which if the Estate's new Leisure operator
intends to secure local support for their preferred
development they are likely to include retention of the
velodrome. No pre planning application discussions
with the planning authority for a new development
have yet taken place. If the planning consent they want
isn't achieved their deal with the Dulwich Estate is
likely to be over.
Pass this on to a friend and tell them that if they want to be
put on the Friends of Herne Hill e-mail list to e-mail
mail@londonvelodrome.org including the words "Friends email"
providing their full name, address & full postcode, and details of
Club membership or organisation represented.
www.norwoodparagon.co.uk 4
Blah! Winter 2005