Ealing residents and the Council have been left disappointed by the decision to demolish Southall Sports Centre and convert it into an academy.

Users of the Sports Centre in Southall were alerted to its closure at the beginning of December and the centre must be vacated by the end of March next year.

The site is currently managed and operated by Ealing Council and Everyone Active but owned by West London College.

Southall resident and sports centre user Hannan Butt has collected almost 600 signatures, by hand and online, protesting against the decision which he said "will have a hugely negative impact on the local community".

He also started a change.org petition which has gained nearly 500 signatures in less than five days.

The petition states the centre contains the "only women's-only gym in the local area" and has been "an integral part of the local community in Southall since 2004", and a "hugely valued resource for local residents".

29-year-old Hannan told Ealing Nub News: "I've been using the facilities since I was in high school and live down the road, so I know the impact the closure is going to have on the local community.

"The sports hall and dance hall are used by children, local clubs and disabled people and there aren't any places nearby to facilitate this so they will be moved to other places in the borough which is not ideal.

"There are local gyms but the facilities are not the same, such as the women's- only gym."

Hannan claimed that the community, as key stakeholders, have not been consulted on the decision of the closure.

He added: "They are taking away facilities made for all of the community and just moving us to different locations with no replacements in place."

The sports centre is located on the site of Southall Community College, part of the West London College group who want to turn the centre into a construction academy.

Conversion works for the building are scheduled to commence during early Summer, 2022 and the Council have been given notice to vacate the centre by the end of March.

An Ealing Council spokesperson said: "The council is disappointed the college has come to this decision.

"We are currently exploring alternative provision, including at Dormers Wells and Featherstone High schools, and at longer-term provision, particularly to mitigate the loss of the women-only gym.

"Four new state-of-the-art gyms, identified through our Let's Go Southall programme, are planned for the Southall area which will be available by the time of the closure.

"These will be located in Southall Park, Southall Recreation Ground, Southall Manor House Grounds and Spikes Bridge Park."

In West London College's statement about the future of the site they said: "The construction academy will provide skills training in infrastructure, bricklaying, carpentry and joinery, plumbing, plastering and electrical installation, designed to match the requirements of local employers.

"There will be a focus on green skills and sustainability to support the Government's net zero ambitions and help train the skilled workforce needed to tackle climate change.

"Local employers in Ealing and West London will be involved in the design, development and delivery of training, so that there is a clear line of sight into good jobs or further study."

The West London Construction Academy (WLCA) is planned to open in January 2023.