Council and democracy

Hammering out a cagey deal at the arena

The £17,000 extended-height hammer cage has been ordered out of money earmarked from the council's newly-established community improvement fund.

It is due for installation early in September and, through meeting new regulation requirements, will enable resident club Croydon Harriers to fully take part in national-level athletics competition. 

This season the club has been obliged to stage hammer throwing earlier in the match day schedule, at a time when the running track was not in use. 

The new amenity is also a timely boost for local athletes setting their sights on the London Olympics in 2012 as it means the arena will now be equipped to top-level event standards and could serve as a training facility.

Other major works carried out at the venue in recent years have included track re-lining and installation of a new shot-putting circle and pole vault bed. In addition, the changing rooms have been upgraded and made accessible for disabled use.

One of the big advantages of the new hammer cage is that it will come equipped with a raising and lowering system that will avoid the protective netting having to be removed during the winter. When not in use the netting can be raised and safely left in place on its frame. This will allow training sessions to continue easily throughout the year and will give the Harriers' throwing athletes the opportunity to be fully prepared and competitive for the 2009 season.

Said cabinet member for culture and sport, Councillor Steve Hollands: "While hammer-throwing may not appeal to spectators like the short distance track races, it's long been a fundamental aspect of athletics competition. It's a specialism that requires strength and agility - and a great deal of practice. It's also something that needs to be undertaken safely and a recent change in UK Athletics regulations meant that the cage at the arena needed to be upgraded.

"The new cage that we're installing comes from the top drawer of athletics equipment and will complete the current round of upgrading at the venue. We've been able to pay for it from a fund especially set up by the council so that we can meet the expense of relatively small but much-needed projects that have no other budgetary allowance. I very much look forward to the cage being put to good use by Croydon Harriers and other athletes."