I am an active Hendon resident aged 67 suffering from painful arthritis. I do not drive but would like to access Copthall Stadium. To reach the stadium I ride the 240 and 221 buses, both infrequent services, and finally walk the spooky pathway across the playing fields. The walk takes me, on a good day, at least ten minutes.

The Government encourages older people to stay active to keep well both for physical and mental health. It encourages us to walk and use public transport. Public transport reduces the carbon footprint.Yet the only access to this stadium is by car. It is hard for me to carry gear for a physical activity and walk to the stadium from the 221 bus stop. When I did the walk this morning I felt uncomfortable as I was the only person on this walkway. I did not feel safe. I am not averse to walking but I am limited on a bad day. I would, even on a good day, think twice about doing this walk in bad weather and would definitely not do it in the dark or during winter months when the pathway could be icy or wet and slippery.

I seem to have an irreconcilable problem. I want to exercise but can’t access facilities. Currently, I take advantage of the brilliant scheme Camden provides for its residents but have to pay an additional fee as an out-of-borough participant. Although the stadium at Copthall and the leisure centre at Swiss Cottage are both run by the same organisation, there is no reciprocity between the two facilities in terms of concessions for seniors. Ironically, it is quicker, easier and less stressful for me to travel to Swiss Cottage than it is to Copthall.

I cannot understand why there is no public transport to the Copthall site. The 221 bus could easily be diverted to take in a stop at the stadium. The diversion and return to route would take less than 10 minutes. Alternatively, where sports facilities are run by the same organisation why cannot boroughs talk to each other to allow equal access for their seniors citizens. I hear talk about inclusivity but actually I am excluded from both Copthall and Swiss Cottage for different reasons. My pension does not go far.

Barnet is doing nothing to facilitate access to this stadium – unless you have a car, are already fit and prepared to walk the scary route across the fields. Am I alone with this problem?

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