Streatham residents looking forward to hearing some positive news at the Streatham Action meeting this week about progress on the proposed new ice rink and leisure centre had their hopes dashed when it was reported that Lambeth Borough Council had threatened to pull out of the scheme.

At a previous meeting of the Streatham Action community forum last October residents learned that Tesco, Lambeth’s partner in the scheme, was reviewing the project. This week it was reported that Lambeth had threatened to pull out as the changes proposed by Tesco following its review were unacceptable.

Planning permission for the development on Streatham High Road was granted in 2007. The scheme, known as the “Streatham Hub”, was due to include a new ice-rink, swimming pool and leisure complex, a Tesco supermarket and housing, as well as facilities for Transport for London’s bus services. One of the conditions imposed was that the new swimming pool and ice complex would need to be up and running before the existing ice-rink closed.

The ice-rink is still operating, but last November Lambeth Council closed the swimming pool and leisure centre “for the foreseeable future” on safety grounds. Since then, attempts to obtain information from the Council about the state of the building have been unsuccessful. Streatham leisure centre remains closed, leaving Lambeth residents with Brixton as their only public swimming pool in the borough.

The Streatham Action meeting is taking place at 7pm on Wednesday 10 February at the Hideaway, Empire Mews behind Streatham High Road. Local councillors and council officials are due to attend, and Tesco have been invited. The meeting is open to the public.

To get directions to the meeting, go to http://www.hideawaylive.co.uk/find-the-hideaway