Ealing (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Ealing Weightlifting Club has launched a community petition to fight its possible closure after the New Year, urging locals to help keep the gym open.
The club, which is situated at Perivale Park Athletics Track, has produced national champions and kept young people safe and active while serving as a lifeline for women, youth, and refugees.
The club, which is acknowledged by British Weight Lifting as a talent academy, is essential in spotting athletic potential.
The club’s future is in grave danger, though, despite its track record of accomplishment.
For over nine months, a James Murray MP-created HS2 grant application has been blocked.
The club claims that Ealing Council has not responded to requests for updates on a temporary road.
According to EWC, obtaining permission to keep equipment in a council container took three months. Meanwhile, being left outside has damaged expensive equipment.
It claims that basic signage has been missing from its location for over a year, making it inaccessible to anyone passing the athletics track.
There is a makeshift banner on the gate, but the wind keeps blowing it away.
Though the club has had council permission to use the land since 2016, the council now insists on it having a long lease agreement before allowing any work to begin.
The Gladiators Project, a project to provide strength and conditioning training to Ealing schools, is being worked on by head coach Kazem Panjavi.
Additionally, this would give coaches who have been working for years without compensation much-needed money.
“These delays are not just frustrating, they are destroying our future,”
said Kazem.
“Our equipment is rusting and, after two years of constant fighting and endless emails with little response, I feel my hope and passion being drained.
If nothing changes, after the New Year we may be forced to close our doors. All we are asking for is the space, visibility and support we were promised.”
An Ealing Council spokesperson said:
“We are in discussions with Ealing Weightlifting Club regarding a proposed expansion at Perivale Park Athletics Track.
They have expressed a desire to extend their operations, reduce costs and introduce container units without the need for planning permission.
They want a long-term lease arrangement and have sought approval for new signs following closure of the golf course, but we are waiting for confirmation of a new café operator to ensure we do not duplicate the work.
It is important to note the site is already leased to our leisure operator, who will manage any sub-leasing or licensing of access as appropriate. We will continue to assess the proposals in line with planning regulations and operational agreements.”
More than 200 parents, lifters, and locals have signed the petition, which urges Ealing Council to grant the club the additional space it needs to thrive.
What reasons did the council give for potential closure?
Shifts in the priorities of councils concerning leisure centre use and plans for redevelopment which may impact the availability of specific facilities for specialist sports clubs.
Plans to merge or devolve their leisure service, which could result in clubs at the periphery of London being unable to secure ongoing occupancy of any premises or funding for any future premises. The challenge to provide affordable and accessible leisure spaces and convert existing facilities for wider use and service delivery under the pressure of raised operational costs.
The council has not confirmed closure but indicated potential alteration in funding or space allocation could force clubs such as Ealing Weightlifting Club to close or relocate after the New Year.