Maidstone Amateur Boxing Club fears closure after plans granted to demolish Heather House for new community centre in Bicknor Road, Park Wood

A boxing club fears newly granted planning permission will force them to close indefinitely.

Maidstone Amateur Boxing Club has been based at Heather House off Bicknor Road in Park Wood since 2018.

But now Maidstone council has plans which were granted in June to demolish Heather House and build a new community centre on the site.

Within the centre will be changing rooms, a sports hall, an office, a meet and greet area, and a kitchen in order to widen the potential use of the building.

Coach Joe Smith has been in constant contact with the council since Monday when he was informed of the possession notice but isn’t hopeful about the club’s future.

He said: “They [the council] told us they are going to seek possession in November and they have nowhere suitable on their books for us to go.

Joe says they need a boxing ring and other equipment set up permanently, so there is no chance they can use the new facility alongside other groups.

The club were first worried about their future in 2021 when the community centre plans were revealed.

Joe added: “We’ve known we were going for a while but I always thought we would be part of the future plans, seems that wasn’t the case.

“I think they’re washing their hands on us now which is a shame as there isn’t a lot for kids to do in Park Wood.”

Since 2018 the club has been running at Heather House and has grown to more than 150 members – 20 of which compete at competitive events.

The boxing club isn’t the only victim. The nearby pavilion, which is home to Weavering Warriors Boxing Club, is also to be demolished to make way for 12 houses.

The club, which has leased the building since 2019, previously explained how the plan to remove their home could ‘kill them’ but they are now more