Walsall groups look forward to new era

Date Published : 09 September 2008

Members of a Walsall boxing club and community association are looking forward to a new era in a new £2 million home that will be an innovative low carbon centre.

Walsall councillors have agreed that the new building, featuring solar panels and wind generators, can be built in Green Rock Lane, Blakenall, following the demolition of rundown buildings on the site.

Pleck Amateur Boxing Club, currently the only unit remaining at Crown Wharf which has been earmarked for the Waterfront redevelopment, and the Green Rivers Community Association will share the state-of-the-art centre.

Both groups are now keeping their fingers crossed that a lottery bid will be successful to fund the majority of the centre.

Bloxwich East Councillors Leslie Beeley, Bill Tweddle and Kath Phillips have all praised members of the groups involved for their contribution to the community.

Councillor Tweddle said: “The new centre will be a great opportunity for the boxing club to build on the commitment and talent it has to work to create future Olympic stars. And the community association equally deserves state-of-the-art facilities”

Councillor Beeley said: “This will mark a new era for both groups who can look to the future in a wonderful new environment.”

Councillor Phillips added: “It takes years of hard work to try and secure lottery funding and we all hope they are successful.”

Councillor Adrian Andrew, Walsall Council deputy leader and Cabinet member for regeneration, said: “This centre will provide a training base for Olympic hopefuls as well as giving young people and their families a fantastic facility.

“There’s a great atmosphere among members of both groups and a new centre will see its hard-working volunteers able to cater for even more people in the community.”

Pleck Amateur Boxing Club coach Tony Wood, who coaches with his brothers Terry and Martin, said it had been running for more than 25 years after being started by Joe Wood.

“We can’t praise Walsall Council enough for the help it has given us over the years as we’ve tried to find a new base,” he said.

Senior boxer Ian Smith, aged 23, has been coming to the club since he was nine.

The Aldridge floor layer said: “It keeps you out of trouble and gives you a real focus.”

He added that he couldn’t wait to move to Blakenall.

“To be able to use a state-of-the-art centre like that will be great,” he said.

At Green Rivers Community Association volunteer Gladys Mower is also looking forward to the future.

She said: “We are pleased that the boxing club is coming here because we see this as a real boost to the community. We will all get a lot out of the new centre.”