Bethnal Green Weightlifting Club allowed to stay temporarily for three months past eviction deadline
‘We still do not understand why the council would wish to destroy a 100-year-old institution and replace it with a Residents’ Hub for which no plans have been seen,’ says coach of the Bethnal Green Weightlifting Club.
The Bethnal Green Weightlifting Club (BGWLC), which was supposed to be evicted today, January 31 has been allowed to stay at the venue for three more months after the council extended the notice. Bethnal Green Weightlifting Club (BGWLC) in Tower Hamlets was handed a Section 25 eviction notice by the council in July 2024, ordering it to leave the premises by the end of this month.
In December of last year, the club fought to stop the eviction and gathered signatures as part of a petition to save the venue from closure. A spokesperson for the council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) they have extended the notice until April 30 as they wanted to give the club more time to discuss it with them and have alternative arrangements in place.
Head Coach Martin Bass says the extension will allow the club to engage in talks with the council. However, he remains concerned about the club’s future. Bass claims he was told the site has been earmarked for a ‘Residents’ Hub’ – though according to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted by the club, the council has no immediate plans for the premises.
Bass added: ‘We still do not understand why the council would wish to destroy a 100-year-old institution and replace it with a Residents’ Hub for which no plans have been seen.’ The club, which is a non-profit organisation, is responsible for producing world champions who have represented Great Britain at the Paralympic Games and the Commonwealth Championships.
Bass has traced the club back to 1926, though he believes it could have formed earlier than this. The club was once based on Old Bethnal Green Road, before moving to its current home on Turin Street in 1948. When the LDRS visited the venue a few weeks ago, members said they were heartbroken when they heard about the eviction as the club has been a ‘lifeline’ for many people.
A Tower Hamlets Council spokesperson said: ‘We’ve met with representatives of the weightlifting club and agreed to extend the date of the notice to April 30 to provide more time for alternative arrangements to be discussed and put in place. We recognise the importance of the club to the community and the borough and will continue to engage with them. Senior officers will visit the site to discuss and assess needs and we remain hopeful that a positive resolution can be agreed.’
If you liked this, read Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club starts events again amidst ownership disputes