A rising star of Scottish boxing faces losing her local training centre in a row with neighbours about noise.
Megan Gordon credits Elgin Boxing Club with helping her to become Scotland’s first-ever female Commonwealth boxer.
But as well as competing in the Bahamas this week, the 17-year-old is fighting to keep her training base open.
Elgin Boxing Club has been running classes at a building in Brodie Place for about 18 months, but its history dates back 40 years.
Organisers say that, over those decades, the group has helped teach generations of children invaluable life skills.
Its fate however now rests in Moray Council’s hands, as it failed to secure the necessary permission to use its new centre – which was upgraded at a cost of “tens of thousands of pounds” – and has had to apply retrospectively.
The club became entangled by red tape after neighbours raised angry complaints with the authority.
Some nearby esidents are urging the council to close the club down, saying that classes are “too noisy” and cause parking problems around the venue.
Last night, Elgin Boxing Club official Kevin Gentleman said that being forced from the base would sound the death-knell for the group.
He said: “This was just a former second-hand furniture store which had been abandoned for years when I bought it, it was an eyesore which cost tens of thousands to renovate.
“It needed a new roof, a suspended ceiling, and expensive new rubber flooring for our classes.
“I also invested in new equipment, this place has been purposely designed for boxing.
“I will admit to being naive in not approaching council for permission to change the use of the building when I bought it.
“But if we lose this place after putting in so much work then that would be the nail in the coffin for the club.
“We all volunteer for free, and we aren’t run for profit, so that would be very disheartening.”
Among the formal protests lodged with planning officers is one about “loud exclamations and exhortations to hit harder”.
The resident added: “The premises are noisy and the unsuitable building and location create parking and access problems, as well as endangering residents with the inappropriate number and size of vehicles.”
Another says: “We are often blocked in and out of our street with people dropping off and collecting members.”
Another objection states: “The club is a great idea but should be in an area more suited to its needs.”
A fourth letter describes the parking situation as “beyond a joke” and the volume of the music played as “terrible”.
Mr Gentleman says he was “disappointed” at the complaints but is now taking a “proactive stance” by playing music more quietly and encouraging people to park elsewhere.
Boxing coach Donald Campbell started the club 40 years ago with local printer Bill Smith, using a “home-made ring” to teach hopefuls.
Mr Gentleman was one of his first trainees as an 11-year-old, and the company director attributes much of his success in life to the lessons he learned between the ropes.
He said: “The club isn’t focussed on producing professional boxers, we teach kids about dedication and the value of hard work.
“Gaining that sort of self-discipline which is so important to boxing can be carried over into other aspects of their lives.
“It is an excellent outlet for children who might otherwise drift into bad behaviour.”
Classes are run for children as young as eight, and take place on four nights of the week.
A Moray Council spokesman said it would not be appropriate for authority officials to comment on an active application.
