'Knockout' boxing gym approved

Boxers sparring at the club's present home in Aberystwyth

A new boxing gym in a deprived area of Aberystwyth has been given the go-ahead by planners.

Promising fighters will switch from their makeshift home in a farm building to a purpose-built clubhouse.

Boxing club supporters said it would be a "knockout" and open up new opportunities for young people.

Support for the project has come from a former boxing champion but there has been some opposition from a group planning a multi-purpose gym nearby.

Building work at the site in Penparcau is not expected to begin until later this year or even early next year as money still has to be raised.

Penparcau is recognised as a deprived area because a high proportion of its residents receive housing benefit.

The new gym will open up all sorts of new opportunities Paul James

It is included in the Welsh assembly's Communities First programme, under which grant applications for projects in designated areas are fast-tracked.

One of the boxing club's supporters, Ceredigion county councillor Paul James, said the gym would open up new opportunities for dozens of young people.

"All those who have worked on these plans are absolutely delighted with the outcome," he said, adding the new facility would be a "knockout".

"The children and adults who box have been out for days collecting names for a petition which was handed to planners at a county council meeting. They collected 1,084."

There will be better facilities at the new gym

Mr James added it had taken two months to secure a lease for building land and planning permission for the gym.

The club's current home is owned by Aberystwyth University.

It has more than 40 members with the youngest just six-years-old. It also has two professionals.

Former British, European and Commonwealth welterweight boxing champion Colin Jones has supported the club.

"Anything that improves facilities for the sport is a good thing for youngsters," said Jones, from Gorseinon, near Swansea.

Complex

"I've been to boxing nights in Aberaeron run by the club and the support its received has been fantastic."

However, the boxing club and a community group have been at loggerheads over the plans.

A community forum in Penparcau wanted to build a "multi-purpose" sports complex nearby and opposed the gym application.

Last month, Kelvin Jones, the forum's treasurer, said it supported the boxing club, but not the location.

"The forum is keen to build a multi-purpose complex on the Min-y-Ddol fields nearby, which would do the same job as the gym.

"We feel there is no need for two buildings doing the same thing and we've asked the boxing club to join us, but members have refused."