Middleton gymnastics club flips into future with £900,000 council revamp

Tuesday, 19 August 2025 17:26

By David Murphy

A Middleton gymnastics club with more than 40 years of history has moved into a new state-of-the-art home, thanks to a £900,000 council-backed investment.

Middleton Gymnastics Club, founded in 1982, has supported tens of thousands of children and young people in the borough, with members regularly competing at regional level.

Until now, the club had been based in a building on Bowness Road which no longer met its needs. Rochdale Borough Council stepped in to help, securing developer contributions to fund a move to an unused gym at Bowlee Community Primary School on Windermere Road.

The new site, covering more than 1,000 square metres, is more than double the size of the old facility. It has been refurbished with brand-new equipment, including a trampoline, a full-size floor area and an upgraded vaulting station.

Club founder and head coach Glenn Prendergast said:

“I’m absolutely delighted with this move. It means so much to the club and the wider community. I’ve coached people who have grown up and sent their children here, and I’m still friends with my old coach, who is nearly 80. We’ve seen lifelong friendships start in this club and that means so much.”

Councillor Neil Emmott, leader of the council, praised the club’s role in the community:

“The Middleton Gymnastics Club has served the area for more than 40 years. By helping generations of kids to get fit, learn new skills and make friends, it has made a huge contribution. We are more than happy to support them as they embark on their next chapter.”

The move also includes improvements to parking facilities, with 40 new spaces being created to benefit not only the club, but also Langley Library, Langley Family Hub and Bowlee Community Primary School.

Local firm H Bells and Sons carried out the redevelopment, with funding drawn from the Langley masterplan. The scheme, now nearing completion, has delivered new housing, parking bays and other infrastructure improvements across the area.