Camden News - by CHARLOTTE CHAMBERS Published: 06 November 2008
Safety fears stop charity’s gym service
A CHARITY that takes 100 teenagers a week to a Gospel Oak gym has stopped the service over health and safety fears – and blames Camden for stalling on a solution for more than three months.
Mick Farrant, chairman of Queen’s Crescent Community Association, says the Maitland Park Gym is in desperate need of repair – with a lack of fire extinguishers, blocked fire doors and cracked walls among his concerns – and warned that until owners Camden Council take charge he will not allow the teenagers to use the facility.
Mr Farrant added: “I feel bad because the
project has really taken off. It keeps the kids off the streets and we just wish the council would get a move on and show some urgency.”
Liberal Democrat Children’s chief councillor Janet Grauberg described the situation as “complicated” because the building has been “used for many things over many years,” but said council staff were “doing what they can” to resolve the issue.