rwillmsen ([info]rwillmsen) wrote,
@ 2006-08-02 22:03:00
Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Entry tags:health, london

Dear Lambeth Council...


Dear Lambeth Council,

I am writing with reference to the following statement contained on your website, which I came across while searching for a municipal swimming pool in the borough:

We are committed to the provision and development of sport and recreation. There are four leisure centres and a community sports centre in the borough, and facilities in our parks and green spaces. We also run a healthy lifestyles programme.

Upon further investigation (ie. clicking on the link to 'Clapham Leisure Centre') I found the following website:

http://www.leisureconnection.co.uk
Another great offer to help you make 2006 your healthiest year ever
There are thousands of reasons to join Harpers Fitness and now you can try us for 7 days for just £7

Reduce cholesterol
Help manage your weight
Reduce levels of stress & anxiety
Protect against osteoporosis & arthritis
Reduce the risk of heart disease
Lower risk of high blood pressure & diabetes

In fact if exercise came in a pill, it would be the most cost effective medicine in the world today!

Contact your local Leisure Connection facility to find out how you can start a healthier lifestyle.

It turns out that there are no public leisure facilities in my borough whatsoever, merely some expensive private gyms which benefit from a huge amount of public money!

Whoever is responsible for this state of affairs should be burnt.

Yours sincerely,

R. Willmsen

(Post a new comment)

Lambeth balks
(Anonymous)
2006-08-04 12:17 am UTC (link)
It's happening all over. Flaming Council is shutting all the facilities here in York too - especially the swimming baths.
You burn 'em Richard!

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: Lambeth balks
[info]rwillmsen
2006-08-28 09:12 pm UTC (link)
Wow, I did actually get a reply!

Dear Mr. Richard Willmsen,
In response to your correspondence sent on the 2nd July, I write to clarify that the London Borough Lambeth have 5 municipal leisure centres 4 of which are managed by Leisure Connection on behalf of the London Borough of Lambeth and Ferndale Community Sports centre managed by Fusion. Harpers Fitness that you refer to, is Leisure Connections own membership brand that customers can sign up to and entitles them to use all centres within Lambeth as part of a membership scheme. Some customers like the idea of signing up to a membership as they use the gym on a regular basis and more than a few times and week, therefore providing savings over a longer time period. Other options are for customers to pay and play or to apply for a Lambeth Leisure Card which entitles customers to access all the same facilities as a member but at a discounted rate. Leisure Connections also run one off promotions to all users throughout the year. The majority of leisure centres are now managed by external operators who promote some sort of membership branding. Within Lambeth this is balanced with the leisure card scheme which ensures that all facilities within the borough are accessible to all.

Concerning your comment that those responsible should be burnt, this is clearly unacceptable and would ask that you retract from using such aggressive language in the future.

regards
Claudia Aristide
Senior Client Officer (Leisure)
Sport and Recreation Unit
Environment & Culture
London Borough of Lambeth
Tel: 020 7926 0790
Fax: 020 7926 6201
Email: caristide@lambeth.gov.uk
website: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk

4th Floor, Blue Star House
234-244 Stockwell Road
London
SW9 9SP

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
Re: Lambeth balks
[info]rustynails9
2009-05-27 09:16 am UTC (link)
I came across your post while looking for municipal pools in the area. Impressive that you got a response but for all the waffle it sounds like you're right about it being a bit of a scam. Especially when you consider Lambeth has one of the highest council tax rates with the lowest improvements/facilities for our money.

Did you manage to find a pool in the end?

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
Re: Lambeth balks
[info]rwillmsen
2009-05-27 11:47 am UTC (link)
Yes, but only by moving to Stratford, which is not much of a solution obviously in health terms, as it's the Fried Chicken capital of the UK

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
Re: Lambeth balks
[info]rustynails9
2009-05-27 11:50 am UTC (link)
*lol* fair enough, I'll just have to suck it up then but I'll do it indignantly :)

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
Re: Lambeth balks
[info]rwillmsen
2009-05-27 11:52 am UTC (link)
Go to one of those wellness places and when they ask if you're a student go 'ynng' and nod your head slightly, it's not exactly lying and it saved me 22 poond a month! (obviously I used a different name :-)

(Reply to this) (Parent)

Create an Account
Forgot your login or password?
Login w/ OpenID
English • Español • Deutsch • Русский…