A CHILDREN'S gymnastics club in Maldon, with more than 300 members, is planning to take over an industrial unit, after being forced to leave a leisure centre.

Grundy Park Gymnastics Club has applied for a change of use for the unit at Wycke Hill Business Park in Maldon, which was used as a car showroom, for car sales and a workshop, for classes and activities by the club which runs classes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

The club has operated at Maldon's Blackwater Leisure Centre for 23 years but due to changes to the centre, the club and various others have been kicked out of the centre.

Climbing walls are planned at the revamped leisure centre.

The hugely controversial move has been done ahead of a major revamp of the centre with climbing walls, a larger gym and a spa-like wellness suite.

The council and its leisure centre operator, Places Leisure, says £6 million is being invested in leisure sites across the district and changes will be a vast improvement. The plans also include removing the "outdated" jungle river feature ride from the swimming pool, a new training pool as well as sauna and steam rooms.

The planning documents by Grundy Park Gymnastics Club state: "There are no other suitable venues in Maldon that meet our criteria in terms of size required and cost. The loss of the sports hall community facility at Blackwater Leisure Centre, has already had an impact on everyone attending the club.

"We have been inundated with messages concerned about whether the club will be able to continue. It is a stressful time for us all. If we are successful in gaining the change of use, we will have to financially commit to a five-year lease as well as all the financial costs incurred in setting up and making the unit safe and suitable for gymnastics.

"However, continuing the club is not just about us, we feel we have an obligation to consider what is best for this vulnerable group, our gymnasts and families and the health of the Maldon community. If we are granted change of use, there will be huge benefits to our current gymnasts and families, as well as members of the Maldon community.

"Our venue will be the only purpose-built gymnastics venue in the local area, which will give more residents the opportunity to experience gymnastics in a professional setting.

"We currently have waiting lists for most of our classes; however, we will be able to add additional classes and increase participation which will greatly benefit the health and wellbeing of the Maldon community."