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An East London gymnastics club’s last-ditch attempt to survive has been boosted by a special council application that could save it from closure.
Earlier this summer, the East London School of Gymnastics, Movement and Dance, the charity that operates the East London Gymnastics Centre in Beckton, was told it has until the new year to vacate the building as the freeholder had moved forward with plans to sell the site to a developer.
The charity has submitted an ACV (Asset of Community Value) application to Newham Council.
If approved, this gives communities a right to identify a building that they believe to be of importance to the community’s social well-being.
Newham's mayor Rokhsana Fiaz confirmed that this would then give the charity the opportunity to buy the building in order to save it from redevelopment.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) understands the ACV application has been sent to the freeholder for consideration.
Kirk Zammit, who runs the charity and manages the centre together with Alex Jerrom, said it was great news that their ACV application had been approved by the council.
Mr Zammit said: “We don’t feel like [the freeholder] could argue… it would be a true asset for the Newham borough and community.
“So we are expecting no objection to the ACV approval." He added: “We are hoping [Newham Council’s] ‘Asset of Community Value department’ grants us the right to the six-month period to put forward our bid for the site and a chance to keep our beloved community asset and high performance gymnastics facility open for many years to come.”
With the help of National Lottery funding, the centre opened its doors in 1997 and has supported the careers of several top Olympians and has trained Hollywood actor Tom Holland in the past.
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, which offers affordable training at prices that are significantly less than other clubs in London. On the weekend it opens up to other gym clubs who do not have their own dedicated space.
The club 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.
The campaign to save the centre from closing has been supported by thousands of people through an online petition, as well as backing from the council, and Labour MP for West Ham and Beckton, James Asser, who said it would be a tragedy if the centre was to close.
Marina Sanduleac, whose daughter trains four times a week for four hours a day as an elite gymnast, previously told the LDRS: “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."
A spokesperson for Linea Homes, the proposed developer, previously told the LDRS that its plans for the site focused on "retaining the building and ensuring its financial viability" and that the new tenant would bring "significant" health and social benefits to the community.
What is an Asset of Community Value?
Both public and private buildings and assets such as land have the potential to become an Asset of Community Value.
Assets of Community Value were founded as part of the Localism Act 2011 and is designed to protect community spaces that promote social well-being or social interests from development and changes of use.
The Localism Act recognises social interests as sporting, cultural or recreational interests.
Members of the community can nominate a building or land to the local authority and if successful, will get listed on the council’s Register of Assets of Community Value.
Once listed, if an Asset of Community Value is put on sale or a new lease of at least 25 years is on offer, then communities have up to six weeks to decide if they want to bid for it, and have up to six months to prepare a bid to buy or lease it – which is known as the Community Right to Bid.
The owner does not have to sell the building or land to the community. However, the community will be permitted to put together a bid to buy it on the open market.
