Energetic youngsters are jumping for joy at news of a relocation move, which means they will at last be able to join a gymnastics club.
Lincoln-based chartered surveyor Banks Long & Co today revealed it has leased a large warehouse in Crofton Road on the city’s Allenby Road Industrial Estate to Witham Hill Gymnastics Club – which means the club can wipe-out its current waiting list!
The expansion move will also allow the club to offer more classes. It spells good news for young people keen to continue following their passion throughout their teens and it will offer new opportunities for people interested in leisure classes.
Witham Hill Gymnastics Club, which currently has 400 members, has outgrown its base in Cardinal Close, off Outer Circle Road, but its committee and staff are thrilled that they have been able to grasp an opportunity to relocate much sooner than they anticipated.
Founder members Jamie and Alisa Saunders said a break clause in the lease on
its Cardinal Close premises, combined with an unexpected opportunity to rent
the Lincolnshire Co-operative-owned unit in nearby Crofton Road, is going to help
the club to hit new heights.
“We are a not-for-profit organisation. Jamie and I coached at other clubs for seven years before deciding there was a need for the Witham Hill facility in Lincoln. We
started off at the Yarborough Leisure Centre, running sessions on two evenings
a week and Saturday mornings,” said Alisa.
“We switched to premises in Cardinal Close in 2009 when we had about 100
members. That number quickly grew to about 250 and we found ourselves
investing in further equipment.
“Now we have 400 members and 150 others on our waiting list. They are going
to be thrilled that they will also now be able to join the club.
“I had constantly been on the lookout for bigger premises and it just happened
that we had reached a five-year break point in our seven-year lease when
the Crofton Road unit became available. It offered us double our current space,
so we decided we had to go for it.”
The Witham Hill Gymnastics Club offers pre-school sessions (for tots aged
18 months upwards) right through to teenagers.
But, whether, it is individuals, squad members training seriously for county and
regional competitions or people seeking leisure learning, staff aim to offer
encouragement to everyone, irrespective of their age and/or ability.
Jamie said: “We are members of the British Gymnasts Association and have
a seventeen-strong committee and a team of 18 coaches, and we are looking
forward to taking Witham Hill Gymnastics Club forward by offering an even
wider range of classes.
“We are setting up a My Club initiative which will aim to keep young people
involved in the sport. We also want to start offering Gymfit sessions and to
develop in other ways.”
The first phase of Witham Hill Gymnastics move is already underway with
club officials and volunteers sprucing up the premises, installing wall cladding
and ceiling sections, and moving in bars, beams and other equipment – ahead
of its opening day on Saturday, March 1.
Phase two will see the installation of a mezzanine floor, the creation of a
reception area, viewing area and changing facilities and the final phase (which
will hopefully be completed this year) will see the addition of safety pits and
still more equipment – subject to success in winning grant funding.
There is also the opportunity to develop the on-site car parking.
Banks Long & Co Trainee Surveyor Jonathan Purkiss said: “We are pleased to
have acted for our client Lincolnshire Co-operative in leasing this unit to Witham
Hill Gymnastics Club for a period of 21 years.
“It is good news that the Club is able to relocating to premises in the north
east of Lincoln, a short distance from its current premises, and that it will be
now be able to grow its members and cut its waiting list.”
