Angry residents have forced the council to review plans to let a private security firm run a sports club on the Cambridge Road estate, after complaints they were told nothing about the proposals or the company.

The underground garage site, previously known as the Surrey Sports Centre, had been used for sports and boxing but was closed in September 2004 because of fire safety fears.

Earlier this year, 24/7 Securities, a Kingston company working in the entertainment sector, proposed bringing the site back into use as a sports club with leisure and community facilities, a plan the council claimed had “widespread support”.

But at a recent executive committee meeting, Michael Mangan, chairman of Cambridge Road estate residents’ association, demanded the council withdraw proposals to give it a 25 year lease for peppercorn rent.

He said: “The concern is there has been no consultation with us whatsoever about how it would be used. 24/7 has never run anything like this before.

“We do not know anything about these people. We are really concerned that again the estate is being bullied into something we know nothing about. No lease should be allowed until the residents’ association has had discussions, and it should be listened to before any decision is made.”

Freddie Barr, who ran the old boxing club, said: “People should know what is going on, as it is on their doorstep. It was just like when I was there. Nobody ever told me anything.”

The terms of the proposed lease said residents would be given “preferential rates for the use of the sports equipment and social facilities”.

Norbiton Councillor Steve Mama said: “There is nothing in the report to show it will operate a service of benefit to the community.”

Councillor Ian George, Conservative housing spokesman, said: “The residents were just minutes away from losing a community facility for good. The council refused to say why it didn’t market the property to other companies and didn’t secure proper use of the proposed facilities for local residents. It’s a total disgrace.”

Councillor Penny Shelton, executive member for housing, agreed to defer the decision until next year.

She said: “I think there are a lot of misconceptions. I do not think there has been any underhand trick here. There have been people who have been invited to talks with the firm but did not attend for any reason.”

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