Pupil 'safety fears' at Sneyd Green's Holden Lane High School spark gym closure
MEMBERS are to be banned from using their gym during the day – because they will have to walk through a school's grounds to reach the fitness suite.
Construction work at Holden Lane High School, in Sneyd Green, means the access to the gym at the neighbouring Goals Soccer Centre will now be through the school grounds.
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OFF LIMITS: Goals Soccer Centre.
That sparked concerns that adults would have been allowed to wander across the school site.
But gym users have now been told that the fitness suite will be closed during the day on school days from November 5.
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It means the gym will only be open from 3.30pm to 10pm on school days, compared with the current 8am to 10pm opening times. The weekend hours of 8am until 8pm will remain unchanged.
Gym users – who are paying around £20 a month – have been given the option to cancel their membership because of the disruption.
Jarrod Bentley, of Sneyd Green, who has been using the facility since 2009, said: "I'm just disappointed about the way we have found out about the new hours.
"It's a concern for all the older people who use the gym in the day to keep fit."
The building work is being carried out as part of the £11 million refurbishment of the school.
The scheme – which is being funded by the £261 million Building Schools for the Future programme in Stoke-on-Trent – will see the school's dated building in Milton Road cleared and replaced with a car park and sports area.
The new building – which is being created on the existing car park – will boast a performance area and media suite.
As a result of the work, visitors to Goals are currently using a car park close to the school's swimming pool and accessing the centre close to the reception.
But that point of access will change as building work continues.
Holden Lane headteacher John Patino said: "There have been ongoing discussions with Goals and the Building Schools for the Future team regarding the access.
"There is a pathway at the moment from Milton Road but that can't stay there and the construction team will have groundwork to do.
"The location of the centre has always been an issue I was concerned about from when I first came to the school.
"We have strengthened a lot of the fencing around it.
"We simply cannot have the public on site with the students."
The new building is expected to be unveiled in 2014.
Staff at Goals Soccer Centre declined to comment yesterday.
Comments
by Huey_Hog
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 1:23PM
“If the school has blocked access then then the obligation is on them to provide an alternative route, but it seems the headteacher has a bee in his bonnet about the gym anyway.”
by sausagelord
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 12:07PM
“Can't help but think that the current climate of fear has contributed to this. God forbid that the public have to walk upon school grounds, because as we know all adults are *****-rapists who will target any children within a 200 yard radius.
If they're really so concerned, why don't they contact a scaffolder or building supplier who will supply them with temporary fencing for a relatively small sum - this will enable the gym users to cross the school premises without inadvertently grooming any children along the way?”
by stgeorge1st
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 11:09AM
“excellent organisation all round . we can send space craft to mars , cure horrendous diseases but we can't erect a fence and a gate to accommodate gym users . absolutely pathetic . the staff will lose their jobs during the day , members will leave and the gym will eventually close .”
by johnwhite18
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 10:13AM
“You can't beat a well planed job can you”