Update: Asbestos find closes national centre

9:23am Wednesday 19th September 2007

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A SPORTS centre has been closed after asbestos was discovered in the building and it may not open until June next year.

The mineral, which can cause serious illness if its fibres are inhaled, was found during a London Development Agency investigation at the National Sports Centre in Crystal Palace Park, Crystal Palace.

The agency was testing the site in preparation for the closure of the centre in November, when all the mechanical and electrical systems are due to be refurbished.

Test results came back positive for asbestos so the agency decided to close the centre down last Friday.

Further investigations will now be carried out and the asbestos will be dealt with.

The agency says recent visitors can be assured all samples taken to date show no dangerous levels of asbestos in the air.

Its director of risk, Dr David Hancock, said: "We are closing the centre as a precautionary measure as we do not want to expose the public or anybody to unnecessary risk."

Plans to refurbish the centre's mechanical and electrical systems are set to continue to go ahead in November and the agency still intends to have the centre fully open to the public in June next year.

Karen Moran, 54, of Belvedere Road, Crystal Palace, is a member of the Crystal Palace Park Dialogue Group, which is looking at redevelopment plans for the site.

She said: "It's a shame, but it needs to close because there are asbestos problems there.

"It has closed for health and safety reasons until June.

"They are also closing the lodge where all the athletes stay from November until June."

Stacia Szczerbuik, a diving instructor who uses the swimming pool at the centre, said: "It's obviously a shame asbestos has been found but the building is dated so it doesn't come as a complete surprise."

Alan Wilson, 48, from Crystal Palace, who organised a fun run at the track by the sports centre to raise money for the Samaritans last Saturday, said the closure meant the participants doing the 10,000m run could not have showers at centre after the race.

He said: "The participants had to go on public transport or in their cars after getting hot and sweaty from running such a long way.

"We also couldn't use nearby toilets. But the centre handled it as well as it could."

• A public walk around Crystal Palace Park to discuss its future has been put back.

The walk with London Development Agency's masterplanning team was due to take place at 1pm on Saturday, but a walk for the press will be held instead.

The public will be able to see plans for the park at an exhibition running from October 18 to October 31 at Crystal Palace station.