Campaign Snowballs to Save Willesden Indoor Track: Willesden 2026

Key Points

• Projected Closure: Brent Council plans to replace the Willesden Indoor Track with expanded gym facilities as part of a £1.4 million sports centre redevelopment.
• Community and Elite Impact: The facility serves as one of London’s few dedicated indoor athletics tracks and hosts the Track Academy charity, supporting hundreds of local young athletes.
• Political Pushback: Opposition groups within Brent Council have formally requested an immediate halt to the works, alleging a lack of proper scrutiny and consultation.
• National Governing Body Involvement: England Athletics has intervened in the dispute, joining a growing petition campaign demanding the track’s preservation.

Willesden (North London News) November 11, 2026 – Urgent demands to halt the planned dismantling of the Willesden indoor athletics track have escalated into a major municipal dispute following public interventions from England Athletics, cross-party local councillors, and community sports organisations. The facility, situated within the Willesden Sports Centre, faces imminent closure under a £1.4 million redevelopment scheme approved by Brent Council. Municipal plans designate the current 60-metre indoor track area for conversion into expanded commercial gym space, interactive exercise studios, and dedicated strength facilities. The proposal has provoked widespread resistance from local residents, youth charity leaders, and national athletic bodies who argue that removing one of the capital’s rare covered training facilities will severely impair grassroots athletics and youth development in North West London.

Why Is Brent Council Proposing the Removal of the Willesden Indoor Track?

According to official statements released by Brent Council representatives, the £1.4 million investment plan aims to modernise the Willesden Sports Centre to meet broader community demand for general fitness infrastructure. Council officers state that the existing indoor track suffers from underutilisation outside peak winter training windows, whereas health and fitness spaces experience consistent oversubscription.

Under the proposed reconfiguration, the space occupied by the indoor straight will be repurposed to accommodate additional cardiovascular machines, resistance equipment, and multi-functional group exercise zones. Municipal planners project that the expansion will increase general membership capacity and generate higher recurring revenue for the local authority to offset operational costs across the borough’s leisure portfolio.

How Have Community Groups and England Athletics Responded to the Redevelopment Scheme?

As reported by Grant Prior of the Construction Enquirer, opposition to the removal of the indoor track gathered immediate momentum after local athletics bodies were informed of the conversion timeframe. Track Academy, a registered charity operating out of the Willesden site to provide sports coaching, academic support, and mentoring to hundreds of local young people, identified the indoor track as vital to its core programming.

England Athletics, the national governing body for the sport in England, subsequently waded into the debate by issuing formal representations to Brent Council cabinet members. Representatives from England Athletics emphasised that London possesses a critical deficit of indoor training venues. The governing body noted that losing the 60-metre indoor facility in Willesden leaves athletes across North and West London without adequate year-round provision, particularly for sprint, hurdle, and jump disciplines during severe weather conditions.

Concurrently, a public petition launched by community advocates has gathered thousands of signatures online. The petition calls for an immediate suspension of all scheduled construction works pending a comprehensive public consultation and an independent assessment of the facility’s sporting value.

What Are Local Politicians Demanding Regarding the Decision-Making Process?

Opposition councillors within Brent Council have formally challenged the executive process used to approve the £1.4 million sports centre overhaul. Elected members representing opposition groups allege that the decision to repurpose the indoor track was finalized without transparent public engagement or sufficient scrutiny by relevant council committees.

In formal motions submitted to council leadership, opposition representatives argued that the cabinet failed to conduct an adequate Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) prior to authorizing the removal of the specialized athletic infrastructure. Opposition spokespersons contend that removing low-cost, high-impact youth programming supported by the track disproportionately affects young people from disadvantaged backgrounds within the borough. The opposition has formally called for a “call-in” procedure to debate the decision in an open governance session before any physical works commence.

What Is the Background to the Willesden Sports Centre Development?

The Willesden Sports Centre was constructed to provide a mix of elite and recreational facilities for Brent residents, featuring an outdoor 400-metre track, indoor swimming pools, sports halls, and the disputed indoor athletics straight. Over the past decade, local authority leisure budgets across London have come under sustained financial pressure, prompting councils to prioritize income-generating amenities such as commercial health clubs and pay-per-use gym floors over specialized sports infrastructure.

The indoor track at Willesden emerged as a key operational hub for Track Academy, founded by former international athlete Connie Henry MBE. The charity utilizes sport as a mechanism to engage young people, reduce youth violence, and improve educational outcomes in Brent. The indoor track provided a safe, weather-protected environment during autumn and winter months, enabling continuous training schedules for grassroots practitioners and competitive athletes alike.

What Are the Predictions for How This Development Will Affect Local Stakeholders?

Impact on Grassroots Athletes and Local Youth

If Brent Council proceeds with the conversion of the indoor track into expanded gym space, local youth and competitive athletes will experience an immediate reduction in specialized training capacity. During winter months, track and field athletes in North West London will be forced to travel to alternative indoor venues such as the Lee Valley Athletics Centre in Enfield or the National Centre for Sport in Uxbridge. For many young participants reliant on local public transport and low-cost community programming, the added travel time and expense present significant barriers to continued participation in athletics.

Impact on Brent Council and Municipal Governance

For Brent Council, the decision carries both financial and political ramifications. Proceeding with the project as planned will deliver the intended commercial gym footprint and operational revenues, but risks further alienating community groups, national governing bodies, and local electors concerned about youth provision. Conversely, pausing or altering the redevelopment scheme to preserve the indoor track could require a renegotiation of contractor agreements, potential delays to the £1.4 million capital project, and the identification of alternative revenue streams to balance the leisure centre’s operating budget.