|
|
|
Boxing gym's hopes for knockout new HQ
THE country's oldest boxing gym could be completely rebuilt and used by the British team in the run-up to the Olympics.
St Pancras Amateur Boxing Club, in Talacre Road, Kentish Town, was established in 1900 and has been helping to keep the borough's youth in good condition and out of trouble ever since.
In a bid to accommodate more members, the club has now made an application to Camden Council to demolish the entire building and replace it with a more modern gym.
Geoffrey Springer, trustee of the club, said: "The present building is a 1970s prefab and there is not enough space for our growing membership.
"Five years ago we had four or five people in to train per night but now we have 50 youngsters in every night and 250 members overall. The space we have is just not sufficient.
"The club has a great many benefits for young people. It keeps them off the streets and we work very hard on their self-esteem and we help them through difficulties - we are like family."
The club is open to people aged nine to 35 and Mr Springer claims that if councillors rubber-stamp the application, which will be heard at a town hall planning meeting next Thursday, it will be used by British boxers as a training venue in the run-up to 2012 Olympics.
He said: "The Boxing Commission has confirmed that if the rebuild goes ahead they want the Great Britain team to train here.
"It will be great incentive for our young athletes and will give them something to strive to. They are excited about the Olympics as it is but this is great news."
In order to fund the rebuild the new club would be on the ground floor with two-storeys of self-contained flats and a roof garden above it.
Peter Cuming, chairman of the Friends of Talacre Gardens, said: "We are right behind this development because we know just how important this boxing club is - especially for the young people in the area.
"Even if this application was rejected we would welcome any sports facility on that site and we are happy that new homes are being included in the development."
Haverstock ward councillor Matthew Sanders (Lib-Dem) said that it was "vital" that sports facilities for young people are protected and that he is "delighted" with the plans.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|