Clubs unite in anger

1:31pm Wednesday 30th May 2007

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OVER 200 residents and users gathered outside Southbury Leisure Centre on Saturday to voice their anger over inflation-busting hall hire price hikes.

Placard waving adults and children gathered at the site, in Southbury Road, to protest after Vantis, the liquidation firm that runs the borough's public sports centres, doubled the cost of hiring a studio from £30 to £60 per hour, without consultation.

There are widespread fears that the move will put leisure facilities beyond the reach of children because their families cannot afford to pay the new rates.

Rod Butler organised the demonstration at the Southbury Road site. He heads Enfield Karate Club, which uses Southbury Leisure Centre's facilities.

Its young members recently secured a clean sweep of medals at an international event, but Mr Butler fears that the move by Vantis will hinder their progress in the sport.

He said: "Many clubs have been going for years and provide a service for the borough's youth. There is so much talent going to waste because of the lack of support for facilities."

Vantis manages the centres through the Enfield Leisure Centres Trust, which went bust last September.

Mr Butler said the company's refusal to consider dropping its cash demands unless clubs can prove their community credentials adds insult to injury.

He said: "It should ask members, parents and past leisure centre managers what kind of group we are."

Residents bankroll Vantis' services through their taxes. They are now forced to pay the firm a premium price to use the centres, which are themselves funded by the public purse.

A council spokeswoman said: "It is always a matter of regret when charges are increased, but the facts are that only some charges have increased. Others have been reduced, and for the regular leisure centre user of the gym and swimming facilities, costs have fallen.

"For commercial activities in leisure centres, costs have increased, but organisations were invited to send in completed forms explaining the nature of their work and their company/club status before they were designated as commercial enterprises.

"Legally Vantis' duty is to the creditors of the failed Trust, and it must secure the financial position of the current operations and creditors.

"When the Trust went into liquidation owing more than £800,000, Vantis was appointed to deal with the financial affairs and a new management team was put in place to run the centres.

"The council has no control over these matters whilst Vantis is dealing with the liquidation, but when this process is completed, we shall need to look at management costs and charges very carefully in establishing the way forward."

Despite repeated attempts, nobody at Vantis was available for comment.