Home of boxing club to be demolished

The 56-year-old club has been told by West Berkshire Council that it must leave its current gym at Trinity School, Shaw, by the end of October.
When the school became an academy in the summer, the district council asked for any land within the boundary of Shaw House, including the gym, to be vacated.
The head coach at the boxing Club, Paul Cooke, who ran with the Olympic torch through Reading in the summer, said: “We want an Olympic legacy, yet we’re closing our boxing gym – it doesn’t make sense. Since the Olympics, we’ve been heaving. We have more than 30 members, including a number of ladies, as well as many others who use the gym.
“I know the gym needs a little bit of work, but if the council let me take it on I can get the funding and maintain it myself.
“The school’s gym is the best location the club has had in its 56-year history.”
The 47-year-old from Thatcham, who has been associated with the club for 32 years, also praised Trinity School for helping to accommodate the club for eight years.
The headteacher at the school, Charlotte Wilson, said that she has tried to persuade the council to allow the boxing club to continue to use the gym, but to no avail.
“We had an agreement with the council that we would move out of the old gym at October half-term.
“We have tried to see if we could keep the old gym but the council and Shaw House have said no.
“We have also looked at other locations within the school for the boxing club, but Mr Cooke wants to leave the boxing ring up all the time which would prove difficult.
“I have never given up hope that the boxing club could stay, but the council want the old gym back,” she added.
Public relations manager for West Berkshire Council, Keith Ulyatt said: “Boundaries had to be established on which land remained in the ownership of the council as part of the Shaw House estate.
“This is to adhere to conditions of the original lottery grant used to refurbish Shaw House.
“The gym building was always due to be demolished as part of the re-provision of the school’s sports facilities, so the club would have to vacate the building at half-term.”
West Berkshire’s executive councillor for leisure, Hilary Cole, added: “The council has offered to try to help to find the boxing club a new venue if they need one.
“Anyone who has a suitable space can contact the boxing club directly.”
If you can help the club, contact Mr Cooke on 07904 030962.