Sport / Joy for gymnastics club as planning consent granted for new facility in Cunningsburgh
THE SHETLAND Gymnastics Club has moved a significant step closer to having its own dedicated facility after securing planning permission.
Shetland Islands Council has granted a change of use planning application for a workshop in Cunningsburgh, which the club is initially set to lease.
The gymnastics club, which operates out of the Clickimin in Lerwick, has been on the hunt for a facility which it could call its own for the best part of two decades.
Commenting on the news, coach Julie Grant said “we can’t believe it”.
“It’s taken a huge amount of behind the scenes work as well as a lot of heartbreak, but we’ve never given up,” she said.
The club added in a statement that the new facility meets the essential requirements for gymnastics, including the correct ceiling height, floor length and adequate car parking.
Funding for building works worth £82,000 has been awarded by sportscotland, while money is also available from Social Investment Scotland.
This comes alongside “significant” fundraising efforts by the club itself.
“Shetland Gymnastics Club is now focused on completing the necessary internal building standards work,” the statement added.
“Once complete, the new facility will allow the club to open its doors to many more people across Shetland and continue to grow the sport locally.”
The gymnastics club formed in 2005, and has gone from strength to strength since.
The club said that within just a few years it became clear that “demand was outgrowing available space, with the waiting list continuing to increase year on year”.
“This highlighted the need for a dedicated premises that could support the club’s long-term development,” it added.
The new facility will be located in the building located just past the Cunningsburgh Hall as drivers head south, which is currently used as a workshop and office space.
The gymnastics club had attempted to take on the former Mackenzie’s Farm Shop in the same area, but that was unsuccessful.
It previously said it had looked at numerous options over the years from the old gym at King Harald Street, to the gym and science block at the old Anderson High School as well as various options in conjunction with Shetland Recreational Trust.
The equipment the club uses at the Clickimin is not full competition size, which can leave the club at a disadvantage when it comes to facing mainland clubs.
Gymnasts perform their national floor routines on a 12x12m sprung floor, which is currently not available in Shetland.
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