LITTLE Alex Locking enjoys his ups and downs at Brampton Sports Centre.
The youngster gets a few tips from trampoline teacher Jenny Davies, a privilege he won’t be able to enjoy much longer.
This week, Rotherham Council announced it will be shutting the rundown centre, formerly Brampton Ellis Secondary Modern school.
It will close in September, meaning children will have to travel to Wath or Wombwell for fun classes and group activities.
Parish council chairman Frank Hodgkiss said it was a sad loss for Brampton. He added: “It’s sad that this decision has had to be made. I used to attend the school and the building means a lot to the people of Brampton.
“But it’s a fact of life that new and more modern buildings will replace old, rundown ones and we must take advantage of the new facilities available.”
Leisure spokesman at Rotherham Council Phil Rogers said: “It is never an easy option to close facilities but it would be false economy to plough money into poor facilities when it can be better used elsewhere.”
The building was converted into a leisure centre about 20 years ago. Shocked staff yesterday told the Chronicle they were disappointed about the closure and said it was a building with lots of local history.
The move is part of a £35million shake-up in Rotherham’s leisure facilities, which will result in four new leisure centres across the borough.
