'Don't cut heart out of London': We launch campaign to save theatres and sports clubs from closure

Community theatres and sports centres in London that are used by thousands of people every week are under threat of closure within weeks, and MyLondon is today launching a campaign to save them. At a time when finances are under increasing strain, once again it's the arts and sport which are falling victim to council cuts and greedy developers.

Four community venues in London are currently under threat - two local theatres, a gymnastics centre and a boxing club - and there may be others we don't yet know about, so we're calling on our readers to throw their support behind the campaign, by highlighting any other venues at risk. Over the course of our campaign we will highlight the value these venues have in enriching the lives of Londoners, and scrutinise the council decisions to hike rents by such outrageous amounts that a theatre in Wembley or a boxing club in Shadwell have no hope of affording them. A community theatre in Hayes is already scheduled to close as the council looks to make more money from the site.

As well as council penny pinching, London's beloved facilities are under threat from greedy developers looking to buy up lucrative land for profit-making schemes, such as the plan to shut down a gymnastics centre in Beckton, Newham, and replace it with a leisure complex many local people won't be able to afford to visit. Below we outline the four venues under threat of closure and why.

East London Gymnastic Centre - Beckton

East London Gymnastic Centre opened its doors in Beckton in 1997 and has supported the careers of several top Olympians, producing a string of Team GB athletes. It is also the location where Hollywood actor Tom Holland learnt his stunts for Spider-Man.

But most importantly, the venue in Newham allows hundreds of children every week to take part in gymnastics and other sports on their doorstep in one of London's poorest boroughs. The site is home to the East London Gymnastics Club (ELGC), which offers affordable training at prices that are significantly less than other clubs in London, meaning disadvantaged kids who would otherwise not be able to take part, are able to do so.

MyLondon heard from some of those children and their parents, about the huge impact the closure would have on them.

READ MORE: Inside East London Gymnastic Centre - the 'Team GB gymnastics factory' under threat

Why is it facing closure?

It is facing potential closure because a developer intends to buy the site and redevelop it to create a new leisure facility, such as a bowling alley. The East London School of Gymnastics, Movement and Dance, the charity that leases the building, was told it has until the end of this year to leave the premises so the freeholder can sell it.

What hope is there of saving it?

An application to designate the site an Asset of Community Value (ACV) has been submitted to Newham Council. If approved, this would allow the community a set amount of time to come up with the cash to buy the site themselves. A petition to save the venue has over 8,000 signatures so far.

Beck Theatre - Hayes

The Beck Theatre in Hayes is a community theatre that opened in 1977. It runs a programme of theatre shows and cinema as well as youth drama groups, and provides a route for local kids to get into the arts. Its performances are brimming with local talent - a real community venue run by and featuring local people.

However it will close in January on what is claimed to be a temporary basis, but with no agreement in place that would allow it to reopen, so people fear the closure will be permanent. MyLondon has spoken to some of the people who would be devastated by its permanent closure including Sheila and Ray Kelly who have been going there five times a week for years, as it helps with Ray's dementia.

Why is it facing closure?

Beck Theatre has been at the centre of a row between Hillingdon Council and its operator Trafalgar Theatres for several weeks. The council has been subsidising the venue with Trafalgar running it on behalf of the council, but the council feels it's putting too much money into it and that it should not be subsidising a 'commercial theatre'.

A lease agreement runs out at the end of this year and negotiations over what happens after that have been disastrous. Trafalgar accused the council's officers of 'unprofessional and, frankly, appalling' behaviour at a meeting between the two parties.

The council meanwhile claims Trafalgar u-turned on an agreement to run it without subsidy. Talks have twice fallen apart due to the back and forth row and accusatory statements between the two parties.

What hope is there of saving it?

Hillingdon Council claims the January closure is only temporary and it has every intention of finding a new operator to reopen it. But with the very public row and accusations of unprofessional behaviour, campaigners fear it'll be hard to attract someone else to run it, especially as Trafalgar claims it's been very challenging to run it under the existing agreement.

Whether the venue is saved may largely depend on the council seeing the venue not as a commercial operation, but as the beloved community facility it is. Putting its community value above cost saving will be central to finding an operator to reopen it, if Trafalgar really is done with it.

East Lane Theatre - Wembley

Like the Beck Theatre, the 75-seater East Lane Theatre in Wembley is a proper local theatre, with around 16 productions a year put on by local people. It gives budding actors a platform to launch their careers - in fact it did just that for award winning actor Richard David-Caine, who played Chabuddy G's phone shop boss in the BBC cult sitcom People Just Do Nothing.

Not only that, it gives locals a place to meet like-minded people and take part in something joyful. But again this beloved community facility is under threat of closure. MyLondon spoke to some of those connected with the theatre, based in Vale Farm Sports Complex near Wembley Stadium.

Why is it facing closure?

Brent Council owns the building and decided it could get far more than the £1,500 a year it currently charges East Lane Theatre Club (ELTC) to use it. So it's put its rent demands up to £75,000, a staggering sum that MP for Brent West, Barry Gardiner, said 'almost looks like victimisation'.

The council knows there is no way the theatre group can pay that. It only makes about £2,000 a year profit which is pumped back into the club. But the council says it could get that much on the open market.

What hope is there of saving it?

The hopes of saving the venue hinge on whether the council can see the bigger picture of how important a community theatre like this is for the people who use it. The £75,000 being demanded, in the context of the council's overall budget, is pocket change. While council budgets are under more strain than ever, Brent Council needs to consider the impact of forcing the closure of a facility like this. So the hope of saving it really rests on people convincing the council it's more valuable than the extra £73,500 a year it thinks it could make.

Broad Street Amateur Boxing Club

In Shadwell, in the borough of Tower Hamlets, the Broad Street Amateur Boxing Club has been operating for 138 years. It trains young people for free in an area of London where there's a lot of deprivation, providing an outlet that keeps them off the streets.

It gives young people structure, confidence and discipline, as well as a safe space to go, but now faces closure as rent demands have gone up by around £64,000 a year. The club has asked for support from the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, whose own brother has boxed at events hosted by the club at The Troxy in Islington before.

Why is it facing closure?

Tower Hamlets Council owns the building and wants more money in rent as its finances are stretched. Due to its importance to the community, the boxing club has only paid £110 a year in rent since 1957. Now the council is asking for £64,000 a year, an amount the club says is unaffordable and would force it to close.

The club is willing to pay £20,000 per year in rent and proposed this as part of a 30-year lease but this was rejected by the council. MyLondon has spoken to some of the young people who benefit from the club, about how it's helped keep them on a positive path, and open them up to new experiences.

What hope is there of saving it?

The club's future now rests with the courts, as the new market rent will be decided in a legal hearing. Head coach, Ray McCallum, says charging members is not an option because a lot of young people come from low-income backgrounds and are growing up in some of the most deprived areas in London.

So the rent decided by the courts could prove unaffordable. The court process was triggered because the council rejected the club's request for a long lease. One way to save the club would be the council agreeing to a long lease to give the club more long-term security, rather than a shorter term community lease.

Let us know of other venues under threat

MyLondon wants to hear about other community venues in the city like these that are under threat of closure. If you have information, or just want to support our campaign in some way, email david.comeau@reachplc.com

Get the top stories from across London directly to your inbox. Sign up for MyLondon's The 12 HERE to get the biggest stories every day