Sobell trampoline park will cost up to £10.50 a go – but council pledges ‘heavily discounted rates’ to get kids active

The extreme bounce facility has caused outrage this year because it is taking up half the sports hall at the Hornsey Road venue – forcing out five-a-side players.

Footballers, councillors, Jeremy Corbyn and even the late Sir Michael Sobell’s granddaughter spoke out against the plans, but the town hall insisted it would get more youngsters exercising, particularly teenage girls.

They say it will more than double the number of people using the sports hall in total, from 62,000 to 150,000 a year.

But considering Islington is one of the poorest boroughs in the country, with the sixth highest rate of child poverty, the prices may prove an obstacle – although the council vows they will be “heavily discounted” for schools, youth clubs and sports groups.

The sports hall as at June 20. (Image: Archant)

At peak times anyone over the age of 16 will have to pay £10.50 and youngsters aged four to 15 will pay £8.50. At off-peak hours adults will pay £7.95 and four- to 16-year-olds £5.95.

Kids under four can go in free as long as they are with an adult paying £7.95.

Health campaigner Adam Wilson from charity Social Action for Health, headquartered down the road in Hackney, told the Gazette: “It’s a good initiative but at that price you’ve got to argue whether cash-strapped families are going to have the financial means to go regularly.

“It’s going to marginalise anyone who is unemployed or on a low income. It puts pressure on parents to take their kids out and then if a family has two children, with commuting costs, it adds up.”

Some scaffolding could be seen on the floor 10 days after work started. (Image: Archant)

Islington Council’s health boss Cllr Janet Burgess said: “We’re committed to helping people get physical exercise, which is vitally important to keep people of all ages fit and healthy.

“The trampoline park will offer heavily discounted rates to schools, youth clubs, youth hubs, sports groups, play schemes and other groups to make it as widely accessible as possible.

“There are also a range of heavily discounted rates available to local people – including £3 for young people as part of the Saturday Night Out programme.

“With the range of discounts on offer the trampoline park will be a lot cheaper than similar facilities in the private sector.”

June 27: Not much progress, but some fences had been erected alongside the badminton courts (Image: Archant)

And scaffolding had covered the climbing wall. (Image: Archant)