A WEST FIFE gymnastics club which was the toast of a TV show could be forced to move out of Dalgety Bay after plans for a training facility were shelved.

Acrobay, whose gymnastics group Gymtasia Evolution caused a sensation on Sky1’s ‘Got To Dance’ last year, are “disappointed and sad” after residents gave the thumbs-down to a £100,000 proposal to turn the town’s sports and leisure centre into a gymnastics facility.

Cash for the revamp was earmarked under Fife Council’s draft budget proposals but Fife Sports and Leisure Trust (FSLT) have confirmed plans will not go ahead after they were “rejected” by the community following a consultation.

Acrobay chair Claire Bailey told the Press, “We were looking to get our own facility for some time now so we could expand the club.

“We’ve got a really long waiting list for kids to get into the club and, after last year, even more so. We’re already full to the gunnels – 90 girls training on a 14 metres by 14m space.

“Dalgety Bay is our home but we’ll unfortunately have to move out. We hope it doesn’t affect too many of our gymnasts and that we don’t lose gymnasts because it’s local for them.

“We’re trying to keep positive and look for other facilities – it’s difficult finding somewhere suitable that’s big enough and with the ceiling height because we’re getting girls thrown in the air.

“We’re sad because this probably won’t happen in the Bay and we’ll probably have to move.” She also extended thanks to everyone who had supported them and underlined, “We don’t want anyone to feel that we were trying to take the centre away from the community.

“We didn’t push for it, we were offered the opportunity. We’re disappointed but we didn’t want any bad feeling and we totally appreciate the support we’ve received.” The project would have been carried out in partnership with FSLT and Acrobay. It would have seen the sports hall refurbished and allowed Acrobay to increase their membership and offer a larger programme.

However, it would have left the sports hall unsuitable for racket or team sports and block-booking activities would have had to be relocated to other leisure centres in Duloch, Carnegie and Cowdenbeath.

Dalgety Bay and Hillend Community Council received 127 responses during the consultation, of which 81 per cent were against the plans.

It’s now recommended the £100,000 be used to seek external funding to identify and develop a new facility in the area.

Chair Colin McPhail added, “The trust also need to develop a marketing plan for the sports centre.

“They’ve said there are some gaps – it’s not well-used in the morning and is not economically viable but it’s up to them to make sure there’s use of it all day.” FSLT chief operation officer Wendy Watson said, “While we are disappointed that it will not proceed we do respect the decision of the local community. “The trust will now work closely with the gymnastic club and Fife Council to find a facility in Central Fife that can suit the gymnasts’ requirement and continue to encourage more children to participate in physical activity.

“We will also look to work with the local community in terms of the future use and plans for the Dalgety Bay facility so that it can continue to be a valued community asset.”