Community Asset Status Offers Hope for Beckton Gymnastics Centre

The East London Gymnastics Centre (ELCG), a community club located in Beckton, east London, which operates as a charity, could avoid closure following its designation as an asset of community value (ACV) by Newham council. The centre had previously received notice to vacate its current premises by the new year, as the freeholder had completed a sale to a developer. According to Newham mayor Rokhsana Fiaz, the ACV status would enable the charity to pursue the purchase of the building. However, the centre’s management indicated that this prospect is still uncertain. A representative for Linea Homes, identified as the prospective developer, had previously stated that their planned new tenant would provide “significant” health and social benefits to the community. The developer was given a deadline of 27 November to raise objections or challenge the ACV determination; Newham Council informed the BBC that no such objections were submitted. Established in 1997 with support from National Lottery funding, the centre has fostered the careers of numerous elite Olympians and previously provided training to Hollywood actor Tom Holland. The gymnastics club asserts that its training fees are “significantly less” compared to other facilities in London. It consistently develops high-calibre gymnasts who are members of both the GB national squad and the Polish squad. Organisers also noted that athletes visiting London from countries such as Australia and America utilize the facility. The centre reportedly accommodates approximately 2,500 individuals weekly, spanning all age groups and skill levels, who engage in various activities including gymnastics, taekwondo, karate, pole fitness, dance, and yoga. Kirk Zammit, who oversees the charity known as the East London School of Gymnastics, Movement and Dance, expressed satisfaction regarding the ACV application’s approval but stated that the available information is insufficient. “We don’t know if this ACV gives us a chance to bid, because the details are very grey,” Mr Zammit informed BBC London. He further explained that communication from the council has been ambiguous regarding whether the ACV status now permits them to stop the sale or if the transaction has progressed too far. Mr Zammit affirmed that the charity’s management would commit to “everything it could” to secure the necessary funds should an opportunity to bid arise. The initiative to prevent the centre’s closure has garnered support from thousands of individuals via an online petition, alongside endorsement from the council and James Asser, the Labour MP for West Ham and Beckton, who commented that it “would be a tragedy if the centre was to close.” Marina Sanduleac, whose daughter trains as an elite gymnast four times weekly, previously conveyed to the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “We need something in the borough for children because there’s nothing.“Everything is closing down. We’re really seeking support from anybody who can help us and can give us a hand to save it.” **What is an ACV?** Under the Localism Act 2011, both publicly and privately owned buildings and land are eligible for designation as Assets of Community Value. This status serves to safeguard locations that contribute to social well-being or interests, including sporting, cultural, or recreational pursuits, from being developed or having their use altered. Local communities have the ability to propose assets to their local authority, and approved nominations are subsequently entered into the council’s ACV register. When a listed asset is put up for sale or offered for a lease exceeding 25 years, communities are granted a six-week period to declare their interest and up to six months to formulate a bid. Although property owners are not compelled to sell to the community, the ACV listing provides the community with the right to make an offer.