High hopes for gym club's new HQ

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PLANNING chiefs meet tomorrow (Wednesday) hoping to be able to approve a scheme that would give Warrington Gymnastics Club a permanent new headquarters.
Members of the borough council’s planning committee are enthusiastic about the club’s ambitious proposals for a super new gymnastics’ centre in four converted industrial units in Wharf Street, Warrington.
They have already considered the proposals once when officers were recommending a temporary planning consent of 12 months.
But they deferred a decision in the hope changes could be made to enable a permanent consent to be granted.
Councillors feared that the club – which has already secured £50,000 Olympic legacy funding from Sport England – could face difficulties in securing further backing if they did not have a permanent home.
Parking was the issue standing in the way of a permanent planning consent but a revised parking layout has now been submitted increasing the number of spaces from 28 to 33.
In addition, class times have been staggered to ensure peak demand closely matches the number of parking spaces available.
The scheme involves no external alterations to the four industrial units. But inside, a large gymnasium would be provided, along with changing rooms, office and storage space, toilets and a café and waiting area on the ground floor and a dance studio and viewing gallery and toilets on the first floor.
The club – which currently operates from Evans House, off Orford Lane, would provide 25 part time jobs and would open seven days a week.
It has more than 300 members and a waiting list of more than 250 children.
Over the years, the club, which can trace its origins to the late 1890s, has produced many top gymnasts and draws its membership from a wide area including Manchester, Liverpool and Runcorn.


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Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.

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