Penarth Boxing Club in fight for survival after council closes base (From Penarth Times)

Penarth Boxing Club in fight for survival after council closes base

7:50am Thursday 3rd February 2011 in News By Robert James Owen

MEMBERS of a Penarth sports club have voiced their disbelief after the Vale Council told them they must leave their base of 36 years - in a move they say could affect hundreds of youngsters in the town.

Penarth Boxing Club (ABC) representatives say the council told them to leave St Paul’s Church in Arcot Street following a recent surveyor's visit to the property - leaving the club homeless.

Neil Munn, manager of the boxing club, said he was ‘shocked and appalled’ by the decision.

“The council has basically told us to get out, because the property is no longer safe to use,” said Mr Munn.

“But the building has been dilapidated for a long time, so I don’t understand why the decision has been taken to suddenly kick us out.

“At the end of the day this is a long running institution in Penarth, built on morals, discipline and respect.

“For a lot of people - including myself - this gym is a way of life and a lot of people will be lost without it.

“We have ploughed tens of thousands of pounds into this property - voluntarily - with no help from the council,” he added.

“We have never been late on rent, and yet we are being treated like this.

“I'm disgusted.”

The decision also has ramifications for Penarth Gymnastics Club, which had intended to move to the council-owned building from its current premises at Penarth pavilion.

The two clubs - regularly used by more than 400 Penarthians - had intended to turn the property into a community centre for all, in a move that would have freed up the pavilion for Penarth Arts and Crafts Ltd’s regeneration project.

Chairman of Penarth ABC, Danny Willis, club manager Munn and former Olympic gymnast Gwynedd Lingard, who founded the gymnastics club in 1961, had asked the council to undertake the survey to find out how much money would be needed to upgrade the property to make the move a possibility.

But that has backfired and they are now concerned that the council will sell off the property.

Mr Willis said: "It appears that the building requires so much repair that we are now homeless - with the gymnastics club facing a similar fate if they are forced out of the pier.

“Essentially two clubs, whose main attraction has been to disadvantaged or disabled children and young people, have been left without facilities - and may be lost completely as a resource within the community of Penarth.

“It’s another example of the most vulnerable being marginalised in our community.”

Club secretary Viv Halbert added: "The surveyors report is yet to be made available for us to see.

“We have had very little answer from the council - it’s very distressing.”

Back in April, Ms Lingard called the chance to move into St Paul's and open up the gym club to the whole of Penarth, 'a heaven-sent opportunity', so the development has come as a shock.

“It’s terrible news, particularly as St Paul’s could have become a real hub for community use,” said Ms Lingard.

“The boxing club is a respected and much-appreciated local establishment that teaches young men all the qualities they need in life - the like of which you can’t find anywhere else in Penarth.

“What are they meant to do now? There is no youth club in Penarth for them, nothing.

“We don’t intend to leave the pavilion now, so this decision has effects for everyone," she added.

Representatives of Penarth ABC, which has produced a number of champions including super-middleweight Nicky Piper MBE, and currently has fighters like Gavin Beddard preparing for championship fights later this month, said they don’t intend to take the news lying down.

“We intend to kick up a real fuss," said Mr Munn.

“We are planning petitions and protests and need the people of Penarth to get behind us.”

A council spokesman confirmed that following a full survey, the building was deemed to be unsafe for occupation.