THE Olympic Games aim to inspire a generation of children – but one mother says Barnet children have missed out this summer.

Cara Demetriades, of Mill Hill, is backing an online petition to save the diving facility at Barnet Copthall leisure centre, and says her own children have been unable to use the facility this summer.

The petition has reached over 2,800 signatures, and the squad presented their petition to Barnet Council earlier this month.

The current Tom Daley diving squad would have to travel 15-20 miles to continue diving with appropriate facilities.

Ms Demetriades, who lives within walking distance of Barnet Copthall centre, said her son enjoys diving and had asked days before if a diving session was still planned at the centre. He was told it was, but was left disappointed when it was cancelled.

She said: “Why during the Olympics are there no public diving sessions available at all? It is not good enough. That centre is for local people to use.

"It is summer holidays and the Olympics are on, Team GB are fantastic and all the kids are inspired and ready to have a go, - not in Mill Hill though.

"During the whole period of the Olympics, the diving pool at Barnet Copthall has not been open for a single public session of diving.

"We would use Copthall but the council make it so difficult to do so that we have given up, now the only reason we use Copthall is because it is the only place with a diving pool except that it is never open.”

Cllr Alison Moore of the East Finchley ward, is backing the petition, and will submit a member’s item to the policy and resources committee on September 1.

She will ask for a further options appraisal to be done and brought back to the committee to include an option to retain the diving facility alongside expanded swimming facilities.

Cllr Moore said: “The Rio Olympics and the 2012 London Olympics have shown what central and long-term planning and consistent investment can do for Team GB successes, so the decision to scrap the diving facility is short sighted and will crush the dreams of those children already taking diving lessons, working hard and setting their hearts on competing in future Olympic games.

“I say to the Conservative administration councillors – don’t be dream crushers, let’s find a way to deliver the two swimming pools and the diving facility.”

Councillor Sachin Rajput, Chairman of the Adults and Safeguarding Committee, has previously said that the council is investing in two proposed state-of-the-art leisure centres by rebuilding Barnet Copthall and constructing a new facility to replace the Church Farm leisure centre.

He added that “extensive consultation” was carried before plans were approved in December last year.

A spokesman for GLL said: "On Sunday August 21, the programmed public diving session at Barnet Copthall Leisure Centre was cancelled at short notice.

This was due to staff sickness. Customers were informed on arrival that their session was cancelled and we apologise for the inconvenience that this caused.

"This was an isolated case, with no unexpected cancellations to public diving prior to the 21st.

"Two additional public diving sessions have been programmed during the summer holiday on the 26th August and 2nd September, with a free session to be issued to those effected by Sunday’s cancellation."

To sign the petition in favour of saving the facility, visit you.38degrees.org.uk under save diving at Barnet Copthall.