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Thousands have signed a petition to save a Newham gymnastics centre known for producing some of the most talented gymnasts in the country which is a risk of closing in a matter of weeks as the site has been earmarked for redevelopment.
With the help of National Lottery funding, the East London Gymnastic Centre opened its doors in Beckton in 1997 and has supported the careers of several top Olympians and is also the place where Hollywood actor Tom Holland learnt his stunts for Spider-Man.
Each week, the centre is used by around 2,500 people and caters to all ages and abilities who take part in a variety of sports including gymnastics, taekwondo and karate, as well as pole fitness, dance and yoga.
The site is home to the East London Gymnastics Club (ELGC), which offers affordable training at prices that are significantly less than other clubs in London, and on the weekend it opens up to other gym clubs who don’t have their own dedicated space.
ELGC continues to cater for top-level gymnasts who are part of the GB national squad and the Polish squad, and athletes from as far away as Australia and the USA flock to use the space whenever they are in London.
Earlier this summer, the East London School of Gymnastics, Movement and Dance, the charity that leases the building, was told it has until the end of this year to leave the premises as the freeholder had moved forward with plans to sell the site to a developer.
Management at ELGC say they were originally involved in talks with the developer Linea Homes and the freeholder, which included plans to provide an alternative sporting facility for the club. They say, however, that "everything went quiet" and in June of this year the club was issued with a six-month break clause, requiring them to leave the building.
Alun Leach, who has been Head of Gymnastics at the club for the past three years, said a lot of children will probably end up ‘fizzling out of the sport’ because the nearest clubs which can cater to their levels are located in Harrow, Heathrow and Camden and will not be easy for everyone to travel to.
He said: “Gymnastics is normally full of athletes that come from affluent backgrounds - it’s very, very costly. We try and provide the sport to those who wouldn’t normally be able to access it, that’s the biggest shame. If we removed this from the community, the nearest clubs are so far away and some of these kids are not going to be able to [get there].”
Original plans from Linea Homes involved demolishing the site to make way for 110 flats. However, ELGC claim the plans have ‘completely changed’ and believe the site is going to be used for leisure purposes which, they argue, will be unaffordable for local people.
A spokesperson for Linea Homes said that the new tenant will bring "significant health and social benefits" to the community and wants to retain the building as it is. Galliard Homes, which is in partnership with Linea Homes, said it had offered an alternative space for the club that was ‘rent-free’.
Kirk Zammit, who manages ELGC together with Alex Jerrom, says they were told their lease was not going to be extended because they are a non-profit organisation which could not afford market rates. The community has been left concerned by the plans, and thousands have signed a petition to save the club, while the issue was also raised in Parliament last week.
Criticising the plans, Mr Zammit said: “When there are actual buildings that need to be redeveloped because they’re falling apart, go buy one of those. There are not enough facilities within London, let alone Newham, and definitely not for gymnastics.
“Every gym club has got massive waiting lists, there is not enough for the demand and now you’re going to lose the key centre in London – for what? Another few flats eventually or another bowling alley or another cinema which a lot of people can’t afford to go to weekly.”
He added: “We’re basically being kicked out of a facility that was funded by the National Lottery. We weren’t even offered a three-month rolling extension – just absolutely nothing – not even a two-week grace [period] in January to come in and get rid of equipment.”
Under Mr Zammit and Mr Jerrom’s nine-year management, the club has significantly grown with the number of child members growing from 400 to around 1,500.
Mr Leach added: “It’s not just going to affect our squad kids, it’s going to affect our general members. The footfall is way over 2,000 and includes gymnastics, pole fitness, karate and taekwondo. There’s so many people, even in just the pizzeria upstairs. We have people coming here just for the café and to see regular people.”
Mr Leach said the club has a nurturing environment and empowers young gymnasts like Sienna Hunte, 14, who grew up there.
Sienna's mother, Kobie Hunte, was also a gymnast is currently Assistant Head of Gymnastics at the club.
Sienna was off for a year due to an injury but she is now back and is working towards the national championships which take place early next year. The thought of the venue closing down has left her feeling devastated, and she says she would do anything for it to stay open.
She said: “I don’t know what’s going to happen, it’s very upsetting and feels very overwhelming."
Sienna’s mother, Kobie, said: “We see these kids more than their parents, they go to school and then they come to us. What people have to remember is that you have to go to school – you don’t have to go to gymnastics, but they want to be here. It teaches them so much.
“Honestly , it’s gutting - because where will they go? Some of these kids now will have nowhere to go because there’s nothing this side of the river. It’s scary, I’ve had some of these kids since they were five years old and now they’re 13 or 14 and they’re in the [national] squad.”
Justyna Kosinska, whose daughter has trained at the club since she was five and is part of the national squad, said: “She spends all her free time here every single day. She trains almost 25 hours per week after school, she is an elite gymnast. Her future is in someone else’s hands right now. We’re trying to reach every single person and every single organisation to help us.”
Marina Sanduleac, whose daughter trains for four hours a day, four times a week, as an elite gymnast, said: “For us, we need something in the borough for children because there’s nothing. Everything is closing down, one-by-one. We’re really seeking support from anybody, who can help us and can give us a hand to save it and give us a place around this area.”
Darlene Anderson, another parent whose two daughters are both involved in gymnastics agrees with Ms Sanduleac, particularly because of the opportunities the club can offer in a borough which is one of the most deprived in London.
She said: “Children in Newham need this space, there’s not many spaces like this. How many things can you take away from children and communities who live here? They deserve this just as much as children from more affluent boroughs – it would just be a shame to lose it.”
Chief Operating Officer David Tinnion, at London Sport, an organisation which promotes inclusive sport and health and wellbeing, said facilities like the centre are the ‘lifeblood’ of local communities.
He said: “Hubs like the East London Gymnastic Centre provide a safe space for people to try new activities, which is crucial for some of our more inactive communities, and they play an important role in keeping young people off the streets whilst encouraging healthy habits for life.”
He said closing ‘thriving facilities’ can only make the challenges facing London’s community sport sector worse. Mr Tinnion added: “We recognise that demand for housing will be a priority, but we need to collectively think seriously about how we build communities better to address these needs without losing vital sport and leisure facilities in the process, and to ensure that people have the opportunities to be physically active every day.”
James Asser, MP for West Ham and Beckton, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “Having visited the facility I can see that it is an invaluable asset for those in the Beckton community, and everyone who is passionate about elite sport across London and nationally, having trained some of our Team GB athletes.
"Losing such a resource would be a tragedy for the individuals who train at and are supported by the centre, and I will work with all involved to ensure it remains an invaluable part of the community.”
Beckton ward councillor Blossom Young said she was hopeful that a ‘positive solution can be found’ to ensure the centre can continue operating. Cllr Young said she was working closely with the centre, the developer and others ‘to find a way forward’.
Newham's mayor Rokhsana Fiaz said the council is considering an application from the club to designate the building as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) application. If approved, it would give the club an opportunity to buy the building themselves in order to save it from development.
Mayor Fiaz added: “Even our current local planning policies emphasise the need to protect community facilities such as the East London Gymnastic Centre in this part of our borough.
“Local residents and supporters of the centre should be commended as they continue to advocate that the much loved and valuable gymnastics facility is safeguarded.” She went on to say: “I urge the developers to listen to the impassioned demands of the members and our local community.”
A Sport England spokesperson said: “Sport England exists to help people play sport and take part in physical activity, regardless of their background, bank balance or postcode. Having facilities available is vital in achieving this and ELGC has been key to the local community.”
A Linea Homes spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “Our plans for the site focus on retaining the building and ensuring its financial viability.
"We have secured a new tenant who will bring significant health and social benefits to the community. Since agreeing to purchase the site, we have kept the existing tenants informed of our plans. We remain committed to assisting the gymnastics centre with support where possible during this transition.”
A spokesperson for Galliard Homes, which is in partnership with Linea Homes, said: “The current circumstances result from a decision by the owner and ELGC’s management to sign a tenancy agreement outside of the 1954 Act that allowed for a vacant possession notice to be served by the owner on the management.
"ELGC management has been aware of the current situation for some time and haven’t made any alternative plans.”
They added: “We are committed to supporting ELGC in this transition and are actively working to identify alternative venues to help sustain the club’s operations.
"Alongside Newham Council, Sport England, and British Gymnastics, we are striving to find a solution that preserves the club’s vital role in the community.
"We have offered an alternate space rent-free, and are looking at other potential options, we await a response from ELGC to discuss these plans. We remain open to discussions and hope that, with the support of all stakeholders, a positive outcome can be achieved.”
