A community gym has been trashed by vandals who set fire to it just weeks after the council unexpectedly closed it.

The small gym was set up in 2005 in an empty room at the back of the grandstand in Wimbledon Park following a £5,000 grant from the youth opportunities fund.

It had been primarily used by members of the Hercules Athletics club who use the track, but was suddenly bolted shut by the council in April without explanation.

While sealed shut, vandals broke in trashing the equipment and setting fire to to equipment. Maurice Sharp, coaching co-ordinator for the Hercules Athletic Club, said: "Recently the council closed it and put bolts on the door and sealed it off completely to keep is out.

"No reason was given.

"They also put scaffolding up round the back of the ground to do some work on the roof which was there for three months.

"Doing that meant that vandals were able to get in who trashed the gym and set fire to it."

"They have refused to be pinned down as to why it has been closed.

"There were some health and safety issue but the only heath and safety issue now is the fact it has been trashed and all the rubble."

A spokesman for Merton Council said: "For some years now we have allowed the Hercules club to use a space under the grandstand at Wimbledon Park athletics track for gym purposes at no cost to the club.

"We’ve asked them to provide us with their operational plan for the facility and are currently awaiting their response."

 

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