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+--- Thread: Gym to replace Leyland Motors club (/thread-1617.html)
Gym to replace Leyland Motors club - Martin - 01-Dec-2007
quote:
Motors club site set for new gym
The future?
By Sam Chadderton
A multi-million pound fitness centre is set to be built on the site of the derelict Leyland Motors social club.
The empty building has been targeted by yobs, but now North West-based FX Leisure has applied to transform the historic premises into the latest in exclusive centres.
http://www.leyland-guardian.co.uk/leyland-news/Motors-club-site-set-for.3531248.jp
- Smithy - 02-Dec-2007
I had read this yesterday Martin, and have mixed views about it. My main concern is that once again, Leyland is to lose what was a very popular facility, for the benefit of the whole town.....going back almost 60 years I well remember being one of thousands of school children performing a dance called the Circassian Circle on the Sports Field there, and through the years watching my eldest sister and my brother play cricket, and then many happy evenings attending the dances and cabarets in the Club.
Being replaced by an exclusive gym centre (no doubt with high joining fees) - my own view is that we are losing a great opportunity, the multi-million pounds would surely be better used to create facilities for a much wider range of the public. We already have gymns in Leyland, so how about something that can be used by young and old alike?
Having watched the demise of another great Social Club - BTR - which had fantastic sports facilities, this is another sad blow. It was never a problem years ago about what to do at weekend or on warm summer evenings - there was so much to do - tennis/cricket/football/bowls/putting green/table tennis/darts... and children's sports days, in other words good old fashioned family pursuits.
Goodbye LMSAC, we will miss you.
- noel - 02-Dec-2007
Well said Pat, I agree with everything you said there. I remember the inter-shool sports days running in the relay team against some very good school sides. It's been a unique facility close to the centre of Leyland, you can't imagine it's like every being built again.
- Smithy - 02-Dec-2007
Senseless isn't it, to get rid of a facility to which the whole family could go, and replace with an 'exclusive' gym centre, and in such a prime position.
A thought for Councillors, Town Planners, and anyone else involved with the 'exciting new plans for regenerating Leyland Town Centre' - could it be that 'the empty building has been targeted by yobs' (along with the old Butec factory and offices) because there is nothing else for them to do in Leyland except roam the streets - provide employment so that they can earn a decent wage, and how about a social centre for everyone, not just a priveleged few. Every industrial site that has been demolished is then covered with hundreds of high-priced houses and flats - how many more houses, gyms and supermarkets do we need?
Most of us can remember the 'works buses' bringing thousands of workers into town every morning, and the mass exodus every evening, plus all local residents who had so much choice of which local company to work for, as is evident from many of the topics on this Forum - how lucky we were to have that choice, plus plenty of things to do in our leisure time.
The future? Well, the younger generation in Leyland certainly won't be able to reminisce on a Forum as we do, so please dont destroy every last bit of local history.
In my opinion, Leyland Motors should not be allowed to be turned into yet another gym - it should classed as a Listed Building, returned to its former glory, and start being used again.
- Smithy - 02-Dec-2007
Sorry, last para should read 'Leyland Motors Social Club'.
- kevin - 02-Dec-2007
So sad. I have many happy memories of this club. Not only all the sporting events, but just the atmosphere. A club for everyone no matter who you were. First memories are having games and competitions at the club, with prizes given out at the end of the day. My father worked at "The motors" in the early 70's and you recieved a booklet which entitled you to a drink, something to eat and a free go on all the activities.Sadly this has now moved into a past era[V][
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- Ron w - 03-Dec-2007
If you have been in the Motors Club recently you would have noticed that it is in a very dilapidated state and really not safe to be in there,the reason it was closed was that the insurance had never been paid so the insurance closed it down,While the Motors had it every thing was O.K. but when the works shut all the people who had enjoyed the good times disapeared and the club could not generate enough money to carry on.so that all we are left with now is the bowling section and ladies netball teams and without the ladies we would not have lasted so long
- Smithy - 04-Dec-2007
Ron, wouldn't it be great if, instead of spending multi-millions of pounds on a gym, FX Leisure used some of that money on bowls, netball, and several other facilities for the benefit of all age groups. My reasoning is that, as new housing has been built on so many prime sites, Leyland badly needs other types of leisure facilities, not just an exclusive multi fitness centre. This is a prime site in the centre of town, easily accessible to all, young and old with or without transport, and since all the major industries have disappeared (along with their family orientated sports and leisure clubs), I'm sure many of us feel that this is the last golden opportunity (and prime site) for this area to have something developed which with benefit the whole area, and get back some decent good old-fashioned family leisure pursuits, that are easily affordable, rather than an 'exclusive' fitness centre which according to the report hopes to attract 3000 visitors (or members) paying - I would image - a high membership fee, way out of reach to the majority of people.
- Ron w - 04-Dec-2007
Pat.
Iappreciate what you are saying about the Motors club but we were faced with a very big debt and risked losing the lot we didnt want the site to be built on but wanted it kept for some kind of sporting activity.and I can assure you that the acting trustees have done their very best to acheive this outcome.The club only incurred such a deficit because it was not being used,all the activities would have carried on if people had bothered to come and use the facilities.The bowling section is still going and if anyone wants to participate I am sure you will be made welcome
- Smithy - 04-Dec-2007
My apologies Ron, I didn't realise that you and others like yourself had worked so hard to keep the Club going for so long faced with massive debts. I had a 10 year spell in Garstang, and moved back here in 1999 and was amazed at the changes that had been made up to that time, and indeed since. What I hope my comments conveyed to you and everyone else involved is that, as it is a Leisure company that has acquired the site - which in itself is preferable to yet more housing - it seems the opportunity is being lost to provide for a wider range of people.
We can only wait and see what happens, but I still find it very sad that they are going to (quote) 'transform the historic premises into the latest in exclusive centres'. We older folk have had many years of pleasure from LMSAC, BTR Social Club, 2 cinemas, dances at the old Public Hall, the Leyland Festival, even the Bingo hall thrived for 40 years...all gone now, not a lot left that the younger element will be able to look back on.