Gymnastics club needs a 'proper home' for its 1,000-plus members

THE manager of a gymnastics club has spoken of the need to find it a "proper home".

King Edmund Acrogymnastics Club is a thriving, nationally recognised organisation that has more than 1,000 people training with it every week.

Having outgrown its current premises in an industrial unit on Armstrong Way, it approached the Circadian Trust that runs South Gloucestershire Council's leisure centres for help.

But it led to a controversial plan to switch bowls facilities from Yate Leisure Club to Thornbury as part of a £70,000 programme which would mean the gymnastics club could then use the leisure club.

Many bowls enthusiasts are elderly and they were angry at being forced to make a long journey across country every time they wanted a game.

They said it would involve a costly round trip of at least an hour for those with their own transport, using a route that was difficult at night and in winter.

Those without a car said they would be unable to rely on public transport and felt they would have to give up their hobby.

But the gym club said the whole community would benefit from King Edmund being based in the centre as it would provide a regular, year-round income and was perfect for the club's needs.

Club manager Mark Thorne said the organisation which started 30 years ago in a room no bigger than a badminton hall was producing international-standard competitors.

But it had been "constantly pushed from pillar to post" as it switched between venues.

Mr Thorne said: "Because of the sheer scale of what we do, we have a real need for a proper home with specified height and dimensions, in order that we can continue to compete at the highest level.

"We have explored alternatives, such as the new-build at Yate International Academy, but it just isn't feasible."

He said the indoor bowls rinks were only used for six months of the year before being boarded over for the summer for other activities, including gymnastics.

Mr Thorne said: "When we were made aware by Circadian that we might be able to use the hall, we had little choice other than to jump at the chance on behalf of the thousands of people who come to us each month.

"Such is the scale of our expansion that we now have a long waiting list of children wishing to be involved. We simply can't relocate to any old warehouse in the area. It has to conform to specified requirements."

He said King Edmund recognised the bowls players' frustrations.

He said: "No doubt a move will inconvenience some of their members and we wouldn't wish that upon anyone."

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