onionbagblog
Back in the Saddle
The MP for Dulwich and West Norwood was wearing her Minister for the Olympics hat in SE24, as well as a cycling helmet. Not that it was needed as she balanced on a stationary track bike and did her best to look interested for the press pack. Best to look the part with so many photographers around, eh Tess?
And so what bought the Right Honourable MP down to Burbage Road early on a Saturday morning? I don't think she was there for the pelaton rotation that took up most of my time.
As you may have read in recent news reports, le velo is currently at the centre of a property postcode price tag war between @Southwark Council and the mysterious Dulwich Estate. Trapped in the middle is the future of le velo and the good folk of VCL.
With the current short-term lease held by VCL coming to a close in July, Dulwich Estate has dangled the carrot, indicating that a twenty-year extension is likely. Having this extended time frame would help VCL generate the estimated £3m funding to bring the track and clubhouse back to international racing standard.
The sticking point is a small stretch of land owned by Southwark Council. Dulwich Estate won't grant a lease until the land is sold to them, to enable 'a suitable exit to the site.' Not at all about putting pressure on the local authority to get the best buyer's price. Nope, not at all.
But property prices around SE24 tend to be rather steep, something Southwark Council understands all too well. You may remember we've been here before - four years ago to be precise.
Cycling is caught up in a political and economic battle over who runs Southwark. The local authority, or the charitable trust that owns the majority of land in the borough?
To be the local authority that closed down a sporting site with genuine Olympic pedigree as we approach 2012 would be political suicide. The problem with le velo is that it is caught between a rock and a hard place.
The level of disrepair isn't so great as to become a health and safety issue and warrant a complete closure; but the current state of the facilities aren't exactly going to attract future sponsorship and investment. The track just exists, albeit with a lot of love from VCL and the South London cycling community.
Plus there's the sheer size of the site. To bulldoze a track of 450m length of pure concrete is quite some engineering feat. Something tells me that le velo 'aint going anywhere - unlike the fragrant Tessa, who posed for the cameras and was out of the area faster than it took me to complete my first lap of the track following the winter break (which was surprisingly rather pacey.)
But at least the local MP put in an appearance. Out wonderful Mayor was also invited to show his support for grass roots sport in South London. Being the weekend and all that, Boris was probably back at his country pile.
I rather enjoyed my Saturday morning. The re-opening of le velo for the first meet of the year comes a close second to the re-opening of the lovely lido as the BEST day of the year.
The Bastard was all the better for a bit of maintenance the night before (OK - I pumped the tyres up.) I help my own in the intermediate sprints, and then put in a semi-decent performance in the 30-lap rotation race at the end of the session.
We're going all the way through until mid-October once again this season. That's assuming that Southwark Council, the mysterious Dulwich Estate and let's not forget the fragrant Tessa can all come to sort of agreement to keep track cycling alive and well in South London.
It's all about the bike - isn't it?
Chapeau!
technorati: herne hill velodrome
reply via twitter
| Saturday 14 March, 2009 |
The MP for Dulwich and West Norwood was wearing her Minister for the Olympics hat in SE24, as well as a cycling helmet. Not that it was needed as she balanced on a stationary track bike and did her best to look interested for the press pack. Best to look the part with so many photographers around, eh Tess?
And so what bought the Right Honourable MP down to Burbage Road early on a Saturday morning? I don't think she was there for the pelaton rotation that took up most of my time.
As you may have read in recent news reports, le velo is currently at the centre of a property postcode price tag war between @Southwark Council and the mysterious Dulwich Estate. Trapped in the middle is the future of le velo and the good folk of VCL.
With the current short-term lease held by VCL coming to a close in July, Dulwich Estate has dangled the carrot, indicating that a twenty-year extension is likely. Having this extended time frame would help VCL generate the estimated £3m funding to bring the track and clubhouse back to international racing standard.
The sticking point is a small stretch of land owned by Southwark Council. Dulwich Estate won't grant a lease until the land is sold to them, to enable 'a suitable exit to the site.' Not at all about putting pressure on the local authority to get the best buyer's price. Nope, not at all.
But property prices around SE24 tend to be rather steep, something Southwark Council understands all too well. You may remember we've been here before - four years ago to be precise.
Cycling is caught up in a political and economic battle over who runs Southwark. The local authority, or the charitable trust that owns the majority of land in the borough?
To be the local authority that closed down a sporting site with genuine Olympic pedigree as we approach 2012 would be political suicide. The problem with le velo is that it is caught between a rock and a hard place.
The level of disrepair isn't so great as to become a health and safety issue and warrant a complete closure; but the current state of the facilities aren't exactly going to attract future sponsorship and investment. The track just exists, albeit with a lot of love from VCL and the South London cycling community.
Plus there's the sheer size of the site. To bulldoze a track of 450m length of pure concrete is quite some engineering feat. Something tells me that le velo 'aint going anywhere - unlike the fragrant Tessa, who posed for the cameras and was out of the area faster than it took me to complete my first lap of the track following the winter break (which was surprisingly rather pacey.)
But at least the local MP put in an appearance. Out wonderful Mayor was also invited to show his support for grass roots sport in South London. Being the weekend and all that, Boris was probably back at his country pile.
I rather enjoyed my Saturday morning. The re-opening of le velo for the first meet of the year comes a close second to the re-opening of the lovely lido as the BEST day of the year.
The Bastard was all the better for a bit of maintenance the night before (OK - I pumped the tyres up.) I help my own in the intermediate sprints, and then put in a semi-decent performance in the 30-lap rotation race at the end of the session.
We're going all the way through until mid-October once again this season. That's assuming that Southwark Council, the mysterious Dulwich Estate and let's not forget the fragrant Tessa can all come to sort of agreement to keep track cycling alive and well in South London.
It's all about the bike - isn't it?
Chapeau!
technorati: herne hill velodrome
reply via twitter
| #permalink |
