§ Mr. FaberTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement about the future of the National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace. [134282]
§ Kate Hoey[holding answer 25 October 2000]: All parties involved in the future development of Crystal Palace are working towards a centre which meets the needs of the local residents and some of our world class athletes, within realistic funding parameters.
Sport England are in the process of looking at a number of options for developing the centre as a Community/English Institute of Sport facility. The proposed development would provide high performance training facilities and support services for world class athletes in the south of London, and also provide recreational facilities for the local community in Bromley and surrounding areas.
It is anticipated that once the proposed options for the development of the site have been considered by Sport England in conjunction with the relevant national governing bodies, a meeting will be arranged with relevant parties to discuss the proposals and a possible way forward.