PARENTS are outraged to hear Barnet's diving facility could be removed and are appealing to the council for the sake of young people across the borough.

A petition aimed has been launched where people are asking Barnet Council to reverse the decision to remove the diving facility at Barnet Copthall leisure centre in Champions Way, Hendon.

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

Wendy Kravetz of Mill Hill, says her two daughters, nine-year-old Olivia, and seven-year-old Hattie, thoroughly enjoy diving, and the Copthall centre is only five minutes away.

Mrs Kravetz said: “Once this goes, that will be it. This is a service to the children in north London, the nearest one is Olympic park, and the other one is about 15-20 miles away.

“If it closes, then taking them diving three times a week is not going to happen.

“My daughter, Hattie, only tried her first diving lesson last week, and she has been waiting to get in the team for so long, and they are all part of a team, a squad, young kids who pull together.”

Unlike, Ms Kravetz, parent Belle Amooty, lives further away, and it takes her 30 minutes to drive her two daughters to the leisure centre, and she does so, four to five times a week.

Her nine-year-old daughter Isla and seven-year-old, Orla, swim at the pool and they both “love diving there”.

Ms Amooty said: “It is outrageous, there’s nowhere else to go in north London. The club has been going for years. If they were going to tear up a football pitch, people would be up in arms.

“Diving is less popular sport, and people from all over to use the diving boards. There is nowhere else you can go to get the standard of coaching and equipment they have there.

“If it goes, it would mean we could not continue. There is a facility in east London, but that would take me an hour’s drive. There is nothing wrong with it, I just don’t understand.”

Despite calls, a council spokesperson, who they refused to name said: “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.

“We carried out extensive consultation and 12 drop-in sessions between June and September last year, which included gathering people’s views on the mix of facilities.

“These attracted nearly 1,000 responses to the questionnaire and 365 people to the drop-in sessions.

“In deciding this mix, the council has had to balance people’s views while taking into account that diving currently forms a relatively small proportion of the total programme on offer.

"It is important when making these decisions that any proposals are viable as well as making sure they provide the maximum benefit to the community.”

To sign the petition, visit - https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-diving-at-barnet-coptall