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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 where Hollywood actor Tom Holland learnt his stunts for Spider-Man. Each week the centre sees 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 training at prices that are significantly less than other clubs in London, while on the weekend it opens up to other gym clubs who do not have their own dedicated space.
ELGC continues to produce top-level gymnasts who are part of the GB national squad and the Polish squad, and athletes from as far as Australia and America 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 re-provide a sporting facility for the club.
Kobie Hunte and Alun Leach (Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon) However "everything went quiet" and by June of this year, the club was issued with a six-month break clause ordering it to leave the building. Alun Leach, 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 but ELGC claim the plans have "completely changed" and believe the site is going to be used for leisure purposes.
A spokesperson for Linea Homes said the new tenant, which has not been named in a statement, will bring "significant health and social benefits" to the community and wants to retain the building as it is. Galliard Homes, which is partnership with Linea Homes, said it had offered an alternative space for the club that was rent-free. The centre could soon close (Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon) Kirk Zammit, who manages ELGC together with Alex Jerrom, says they were told their lease wasn’t going to be extended because they are a non-profit organisation which couldn’t afford market rates.
Thousands have signed a petition started by an ELGC member to save the club, while the issue was also raised in Parliament. Mr Zammit said: “When there are actual buildings that need to be redeveloped because they’re falling apart, go buy one of those. There’s not enough facilities within London let alone Newham, and definitely for gymnastics, as a sport, there isn’t.
"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 said the club has a nurturing environment and empowers young gymnasts like Sienna Hunte, who grew up there as her mum, Kobie Hunte, was also a gymnast and now works as assistant head of gymnastics. Sienna, 14, was off for a year due to an injury but she’s 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. I will do anything to save this place, just knowing I’m not going to do the drive here every day and coming here, it’s been a part of my life for my whole 14 years.” Sienna’s mum Kobie also feels devastated by the thought of losing the space, which she says is like her second home.
She has been involved in gymnastics since the age of three and said: “We see these kids more than their parents, they go to school and then they come to us. “Some of these kids now will have nowhere to go because there’s nothing this side of the river and what are they going to do? It’s scary." James Asser, the MP for West Ham and Beckton, told the 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.” Newham mayor Rokhsana Fiaz said the council is processing an Asset of Community Value application from the club, which would give them the opportunity to buy the building themselves in order to save it from development. She added: “I urge the developers to listen to the impassioned demands of the members and our local community.
” A Linea Homes spokesperson told the LDRS: “Our plans for the site focus on retaining the building and ensuring its financial viability. 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.
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