New facilities being made to help discover new boxing talents for the Olympics
Published: 8 July, 2010
TRUSTEES of St Pancras Amateur Boxing Club are waiting to hear the sound of the opening bell on plans to build a new Olympic sports facility.
The gym in Talacre Road, Kentish Town, is in desperate need of redevelopment, and blueprints submitted to the council promise to do just that.
There will be two new Olympic-sized boxing rings and more space so that the club can train more juniors and host their own boxing shows.
Having worked closely with the Amateur Boxing Association of England, there are also plans in place for national teams–- including Team GB – preparing for the London 2012 Games to train at the new gym.
There will also be seven new flats built above the gym which will be sold off to help fund the project, which is believed to cost around £2million.
Chairman of the trustees Geoffrey Springer, who is hoping to hear back from the council within the next three months, said: “We play such a pivotal role in the community.
“We regularly work with schools and young people in the area, and they deserve the very best training facilities.
“We’ve drawn up plans to build a magnificent building, a fantastic new gym that will last for generations.”
Mr Springer is hoping that the building work will get under way early next year, and that the boxing gym will be completed within six months.
Despite all the excitement, however, he is taking it one step at a time.
“Of course, we’re delighted that we have put the plans together and submitted them to the council.
But until we get our planning permission we’re not getting carried away.
This is only the first lap, and we know that we’ve got plenty of laps left to run.
If we get the go ahead, then we’ll turn our attentions to getting the funds in place and starting the work.
“If and when the opening day eventually arrives it will not only be a historic day for the club but also the whole community.”
A Camden Council spokesperson said: “The council is working with the trustees of St Pancras boxing club to provide excellent sporting facilities for the club and local community now and into the future. A planning application has been received from the club and will be considered in line with our normal policies and procedures.”