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Boxing club’s pleas fell on deaf ears
Treatment of All Stars club ‘is an absolute disgrace’ claim
LEAKED letters have revealed how a decade of inaction has led to a popular Harrow Road youth club facing closure.
The All Stars Boxing and Youth Club has had its grant application rejected despite repeated calls for help since 1999.
The club, which has trained a host of female champions and is a popular refuge for scores of teenagers from north Westminster, is £80,000 in arrears. Its managers have repeatedly been ignored despite sending a stream of written pleas since 1999.
The leader of the council Labour group Paul Dimoldenberg said: “These letters from the All Stars to successive Conservative council leaders reveal the depths of the council’s failure to help one of Westminster’s sporting successes. The All Stars’ building remains in poor condition and grant applications have been refused year after year.
“Westminster is the wealthiest council in the country with over £70 million in the bank reserves. Yet, despite being told very clearly what needed to be done, the past two leaders have done absolutely nothing to help the All Stars.
He added: “It is an absolute disgrace and Councillors [Sir Simon] Milton and [Melvyn] Caplan owe the All Stars and their young boxers a full apology.”
Councillor Daniel Astaire, cabinet member for customer and community services, said: “One of All Star’s biggest problems stems from a private dispute with its landlord, which the council has stepped in to help act as peacemaker. Although there is no final resolution to that dispute, the club has managed to stay in its premises, and the council is committed to helping ensure All Stars survives.
“Whether or not that is in its current building is another matter, and may take some time to resolve.
“But the immediate priority is for a complete overhaul of how the club is run, and that is why we’re providing our expertise in drafting an action plan to put it on a positive footing for its long term health, which is more important than short-term political point scoring.
“After any funding round the council is regularly sent letters from organisations who have missed out, but we must be seen to be treating all applicants equally and fairly.
“The fact is that All Stars should be aiming for national sports funding, which other sports clubs already tap into.
“I’m hopeful that All Stars does have a secure future, and I know the club appreciates the effort we’re putting in and fully supports all the steps we are taking to help it.” |
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