The indoor track is set to be replaced by a gym, with a young people's athletics charity saying the decision could be "existential"

A North London council is just weeks away from closing one of London's only indoor athletics tracks and replacing it with a gym. Brent Council's decision has brought a great deal of distress to a charity, Track Academy, which operates several sessions a week at the centre.

Founded in 2007 by Brent-born Connie Henry MBE, a former international triple jump athlete who won bronze in 1998, Track Academy supports hundreds of young people aged five to 23 from the indoor track.

The charity runs three sessions a week at Willesden Sports Centre, yet this is set to change as Brent Council informed the charity at the start of June 2026 that the indoor track would be redeveloped into a gym, but now they have weeks to go before the track closes.

Patrik Ewe, who now runs the charity, said that he is worried about the impact the closure will have on hundreds of children and young people who use the service, as it would leave many without training for more than five months a year.

He said: "In their own assessment, by this change young people will be severely impacted, those from low-income families will be impacted, and disabled people will be impacted, but they are going to plough on with the scheme. It is quite clear that this is a commercially driven decision; they openly say that many people will pay to use an indoor gym, but the indoor track is an underused facility.

"There will be nowhere in the winter months where these young people can train. In January alone, we saw 220 young people. We have tried to do everything we can behind the scenes. We have the exact groups being targeted by this decision, but it is a commercial decision.

"We are just going to have to plough on and figure out a way; we know that our numbers are going to go down because of this. From our side, it is existential; it's massive.

"At the start, the council thought that all athletics clubs operate outside; I don't think they really understand how important that space is to the community. Grassroots charities just have to roll with the punches, but it is a shame when you are being punched by your own council."

The CEO quoted the Equality Impact Assessment undertaken by Brent for the ramifications of the decision, stating that the closure will have an adverse effect on girls, disabled young people and ethnically diverse communities.

While the charity will still be able to operate at an outdoor athletics track, Patrik warns that the closure could adversely affect the number of young people who engage with it, as the charity may struggle to run sessions during winter.

Bernard Olive, 65, a parent of an 11-year-old and a 16-year-old who attend the sessions, said his children were "devastated" at the news of the closure. He said: "For both of them its something they can look forward to. It feels safe when they go there; it's a really safe space for them.

"It's like cutting off their arm; they just got something they enjoy, and they like going to, and it's being taken away from them. My daughter wanted to write a poem about how it makes her feel and how upset she is and send it to the council.

"This just sounds like they just want money. These are young people; if they don't have something like this, they will be out on the streets. I'm really upset about this myself; in the 18 months I've been going there and watching, I've seen people really blossom. To get rid of something like that, where are these kids going to go?"

Pearl Williams, 54, has known the club since her first child attended at age 11; now she is taking her youngest child to the club every week.

Pearl told the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme about how much of an impact the closure will have for the community. She said: "I've got four sons who have been involved in this club for years. My youngest competes, and with the closure of the indoor track, he won't have anywhere to train in the winter months.

"How will he keep up with the competition? It's not just the club as well; they do so much for the kids. It's such a safe space. I can't believe the council are diminishing that space; it's not good. What's going to happen?

"Nowhere else around here has an indoor track; it's quite rare. For them to be taking away one of the only indoor tracks, it's not fair. Who would want their kids travelling in the winter far away?"

Responding to the claims from Track Academy, Brent Council said that the decision was based on a combination of site-specific evidence, an independent review, and Brent's leisure estate, and that the council have been corresponding with Track Academy about winter provision, alternative spaces as well as the potential for some financial support.

Councillor Liz Dixon, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Public Health at Brent Council, said: "Willesden Sports Centre's gym and fitness facilities have been facing capacity and layout constraints for some time.

"This £1.4 million investment will modernise the centre and create much-needed additional capacity so that more Brent residents can benefit. The redesign will provide a larger gym, a dedicated spin studio, a flexible multi-use activity space, and improved equipment as well as making the centre much more accessible and inclusive.

"We recognise the important work Track Academy does with young people through athletics, mentoring, and educational support. We understand their concerns, and we have been working with them on securing alternative indoor provision within Willesden Sports Centre.

"Track Academy will continue to have access to indoor provision, while the outdoor 400m athletics track is entirely unaffected.

"We will continue working hard to give every Brent resident the opportunity to lead a healthy and active lifestyle, and supporting those impacted by the changes in their local area."