Standing outside Active Ashton on a busy afternoon, it doesn't take long for a queue of heartbroken gymgoers to make their voices heard. There is anger and devastation in Tameside following this week's announcement that three of the borough's leisure centres will close their doors in September.
Active Ashton, which includes a gym, swimming pool and sauna, stands between the interchange and the shopping centres of Ashton town centre. Indoor bowling arena Active Etherow and Adventure Longdendale - which contains a trampoline park, laser zone and soft play area - will also shut down.
The not-for-profit organisation which runs all three, Active Tameside, says it has been left in an 'unenviable position' after being stung by rising costs - while Tameside Council insists it cannot afford to pick up the bill and rescue the sites. For the people who use the facilities, young and old, it has left an overwhelming sense of disappointment.
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Mark Jackson says he has been 'horrified' by the 'frankly disgusting' decision. The 55-year-old was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 1998 and says the facility in Ashton is 'vital' to him.
"Swimming is basically responsible for me being able to walk again," Mark said. He believes the move to close the facility is 'poorly thought out'.
"To some extent I'm baffled by the logic behind it," he said. "There are people who have mental health issues that use this place as a safe spot, but they get great value from it.
"It will end up being more cost to the NHS because they will need more medication rather than physically doing something and keeping their mind active. Ultimately it will cost the council, the government, even more in the long run.
"I'm fortunate that I drive. There's a lot of people that rely on this place being here that are not so lucky."
Mark is one of a number of Active Ashton users who spoke of the positive impact the facility had on their health, both physically and mentally. Michael Lawlor travels to the gym from Manchester because of its welcoming atmosphere.
The 54-year-old has PTSD as he continues to recover from a horrific attack. He suffered a fractured skull and five bleeds on the brain, with four operations needed to save him.
After two years of visiting Active Ashton, he now brings his son along too. "This place has helped me so much," he said.
"I was afraid to go anywhere. I still am sometimes.
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"While I've been going through all that stress I have been using this as a safe haven. The people are absolutely brilliant."
Melanie Wallwork's three-year-old son Jake has brain damage and suspected autism. He can struggle with sensory overload, but swimming is the one physical activity he can enjoy.
He goes swimming at Active Ashton three times a week. "It's safe because he can't just pull himself out of the pool," said Melanie, 42.
"With other activities he struggles, he can't be around large groups. But swimming is very beneficial for him."
For Jake, who live on the Hartshead Estate, a trip to another Active Tameside gym could be a journey too far. "Jake can't go on a bus," said Melanie.
"He has meltdowns. It's not as simple as taking him on the bus to Denton. From where we are now we can get a taxi [to Active Ashton]. It's more expensive than a bus, but it's not as expensive as going to Denton.
"I'm devastated to be honest that it's going. He's been doing so well with his confidence swimming, there's not much else for him to do."
While the Manchester Evening News spoke to Active Ashton users earlier this week, two large groups of schoolchildren went in and out of the building for swimming lessons. The facility is well used by locals old and young.
Luke Devlin, 19, does casual work at the gym but also uses in his spare time. "I'm a bit gutted and disappointed to be fair," he said.
"I was surprised, it's just how long it has been open. I've been using this gym since the first lockdown. It's been a breakaway tool to keep fit and have something to do."
He had been to Active Ashton with his sister, 16-year-old Chloe, who suggested other gyms in the town were 'expensive'. "It's not that dear here," she added.
"It's got good facilities. It's just a shame, I don't think it should be shutting down, it gives people opportunities."
Pals Mohammad Arshad and Tariq Musood suggested Active Ashton was one of few places older residents could enjoy in the area. Mohammad, 70, said: "Since we heard the news, we're very upset.
"I think it's very bad, really bad." Tariq, 66, added: "Being our age, we've got nothing else to do.
"We've been here for a very long time now, we know everybody here - the staff, members that come here. I hope that they reconsider this for the public."
Jordan Shepley has been swimming at Active Ashton since he was four years old. He began coaching swimming there at the age of 14, and is now 26.
"There are other pools in Tameside," he said. "But the community spirit is great here. You know people on a personal basis."
Jordan was disappointed that the council was not able to step in with funding to support Active Ashton. He suggested it would have been a better use of funds than the redevelopment of Ashton Market.
"It's disappointing, but it's nobody's fault necessarily," he said. "It's an old building and the longer you keep it open, the more repairs it's going to need."
Others told the M.E.N. they 'felt like crying' when they heard their 'happy place' was closing down. Maureen Joynson, who has been using Active Ashton for 18 years, said: "I'm 80, where am I going to go?
"I've made lots of friends, we all go out together. Where are we going to meet up now? We can't go to the pub."
Susan Travis, 73, is a regular in aqua classes at the pool and believes the closure is a 'disgrace'. "The nearest for me will be Denton," she said.
"I'm not travelling to keep fit. I work in Ashton, I come straight from work.
"There are disabled people, young people, there are babies that come learning to swim. There's a lot in there, it's just not fair at all."
Ramesh Devchand has been a member of the gym for more than 30 years and works close to the building. The 65-year-old said: "Throughout the day I see so many people using it, schoolchildren using the swimming pool, all of that.
"They are saying we can go to Denton, we can go to Hyde... I'm losing my enthusiasm [to keep fit] if I have to drive. This gym is helping me to keep healthy and fit, given my age."
Tony Westcott, 67, added: "Here, you've got the wards that are some of the most deprived, not only in Tameside but the UK. But in here it's a community - different races, different abilities, young lads training, people preparing for operations. It's the friendliest of gyms and the easiest to get into, people are so welcoming.
"They've also got the sauna and things like that. People with problems, or working hard, they can come in for an hour and relax. It's a social hub, there will be someone to have a bit of banter with, and someone to give you encouragement."
However, the news of Active Ashton's closure didn't put off Kade Mistry from joining the gym, on the same day the M.E.N. spoke to residents. "I want it to remain open, but it's not in my power is it," he said.
Kade says he went to a rival gym in the town which 'went downhill', and the 'spa' facilities appealed to him following shoulder injuries.
What Active Tameside says
Reg Patel, Interim CEO – Director of Operations and Assets at Active Tameside, says the organisation 'understands and appreciates' the role all three leisure centres set for closure play in their communities. But with mounting costs, and the Ashton gym in need of refurbishment, Mr Patel insists Active Tameside cannot afford to keep them running.
He told the M.E.N.: "The stories you share resonate with us deeply, both as a charitable leisure, health and wellbeing organisation and as individuals who work within all the centres we operate. All our centres are community hubs - open, accessible, and welcoming to all.
"The benefits they deliver in terms of sociability and mental health are as equal in importance to the sporting and leisure opportunities they provide, and we recognise their value, particularly in these times. That is why it is with great sadness to us all at Active Tameside that we find ourselves in this unenviable position.
"Active Ashton is an ageing and increasingly fragile facility and we’ve always appreciated the understanding of our members and centre users who have overlooked its shortcomings to appreciate and enjoy the services we have continued to provide through to our excellent team. Years of ongoing and significant issues around the fabric, equipment and maintenance of the centre, coupled with dramatic financial increases in energy prices, essential materials and insurance means we can no longer sustain this impact and all cost cutting measures have been exhausted.
"It has always been a pleasure to run all three of these sites as we capture the full impact of what they mean to our community. But unfortunately, the repair works we have been actioning over the last few years are simply a short-term solution and in these financially challenging times to continue is no longer viable for us as an organisation."
Active Tameside says it is relocating schools, members, service users and clubs to its other facilities, while supporting staff to find roles at its other sites. The organisation adds that it remains not-for-profit, with all profits invested into the facilities.
What Tameside Council says
Tameside Council says the proposal is 'disappointing for everyone' and that Active Tameside provides 'some of the best health and wellbeing services' in the region. A spokesperson added: "However, with rising energy costs and inflation, Active Tameside do not have sufficient revenue to sustain their current business model and need to close some sites in order to secure the future of the whole leisure offer.
"The council's finances means that it is not in a position to pay more for the services and sadly like other sports trust, Active have not been able to access any government support to deal with the excessive energy costs. With ongoing running costs, and the Ashton facility being past its end of life and requiring significant investment, it is no longer feasible for Active to run their offer from this site together with Adventure Longdendale and Active Etherow."
The council adds it will support Active Tameside 'to ensure the best outcome possible for residents'. On the redevelopment of Ashton Market, the spokesperson added: “Money allocated to the redevelopment of Ashton Market Square is part of a successful £20m bid to government for Levelling Up funding.
"This money is for the specific use of the projects outlined in the bid, including redevelopment of the Market Square, restoration of the town hall and development of the former interchange site. It is therefore not an option to use this external funding to support Active Tameside.”
