Lawrence Boxing Club hoping to secure Sport England funding for building repairs after securing a new 25-year lease from NFDC
A LYMINGTON boxing club which was at risk of closure has won its fight for survival after securing a new 25-year lease from NFDC.
As reported in the A&T, under threat Lawrence Boxing Club in Marsh Lane had been stuck in a deadlock with the council since 2014.
Confirming the news, club chairman Alan Farrar said the club could now bid for grant funding from bodies like Sport England to overhaul the building, including replacing its asbestos roof.
Mr Farrar previously warned the club might not last through the winter without a long-term lease that could encourage cash investment.
He told the A&T: “Our new lease is still with NFDC’s legal people but it’s all been agreed.
“The council has been more than helpful and very sympathetic to us; I think they’re very much on board with what we achieve here.
“NFDC’s staff have been very positive and, once we get the lease, we can start exploring funding options.”
An NFDC spokesperson said: “The council has agreed heads of terms with the club and will be issuing a draft lease for the club’s consideration.
“We are aiming to complete the new lease before the Christmas holiday break.”
Mr Farrar said the club was built on a “shoestring” budget in the 1960s and now needs an overhaul.
“We’ve still got an asbestos roof that needs removing,” he said, adding: “The building is well past its sell by date.
“We would like to demolish part of the building that went up in 1989 and increase the building’s footprint a bit.
“There’s room to expand the building a bit in the north west corner of the plot, if we get rid of the trees.”
Mr Farrar said he is “very hopeful” the building could be rebuilt by 2028 in time to celebrate the club’s centenary.
“It will be a long job and quite a task,” Mr Farrar warned.
“We’ve had strong support from Janet Sutherland and councillors Barry Dunning and Jack Davies. Janet in particular has really pulled for us.”
He added: “None of us at the club wanted to see it go. We sat on the site and paid our peppercorn rent until the lease situation has been resolved.
“My hope is that by the 2028 centenary, I will be 77 and I’ll be able to take a step back from all of it, knowing that the club’s future is secure.
“There are not many people in Lymington that don’t have a connection to the club.
“When Jack Davies was helping us he told us that his dad had come through here. We had a beginners’ class here recently that had 45 people turn up.
“Club membership is definitely not dropping off. It was founded in 1928 to provide physical recreation for youngsters and we’re still going strong today.”