Moberly Sports Centre in Brent to undergo multi-million redevelopment in its place

Anguished campaigners decried a ‘betrayal of the Olympic legacy’ as the demolition of the Jubilee Sports Centre was confirmed yesterday.

Despite strong opposition from locals, who submitted a 5,500 signature petition and campaigned against the closure, the centre, in Caird Street, will be replaced with private residences.

Meanwhile, a �17 million facility will be built on the site of the existing Moberly Sports Centre, half a mile away in The Quadrant, off Kilburn Lane. The decision was agreed at a Westminster Cabinet meeting last night.

Paula Trimmer, chair of the Save the Jubilee committee, said: “The Olympics have been a great success so far and the audience has enjoyed the great show.

“However ordinary people need local accessible sports facilities if the legacy of the Olympics is to inspire them.

“In particular children living in deprived inner city areas like Queen’s Park need sports facilities which can be reached easily.”

The new complex, which will be larger than the Jubilee and Moberly centres combined, will offer state-of-the-art facilities including a new swimming pool, a multi-use gymnastics and martial arts area and an eight-court sports hall.

It will be funded and built by private developer Willmott Dixon, in exchange for permission for residential development on both sites.

Steve Summers, deputy cabinet member for sport and the Olympics at Westminster Council, said: “We understand the concerns of the community regarding the loss of facilities at Jubilee and hope that the proposed new community sports hall – which has been prompted by feedback from local people - will go a long way to answer those concerns.

“Few councils are in the position of being able to build multi-million new sports facilities in the current financial climate. We believe these proposals will give Westminster and Queen’s Park leading sports facilities and will be an impressive post-Olympic legacy.”