By Joanne Kelly

AFTER years of setbacks, Wiltshire School of Gymnastics finally moved into its new premises last weekend.

Although there is still a bit of work to be done on the £900,000 centre, the gymnasts and trampolinists have been getting used to their new surroundings.

The school has moved from premises on Merlin Way, next door to the Boomerang soft play centre, to purpose-built, state of the art facilities opposite the Christie Miller Sports Centre.

With the help of parents, gym coaches and gymnasts moved all the equipment from one centre to another at the weekend and the first coaching sessions started on Monday.

Rod Lewis, chairman of the centre's trustees, was relieved the struggle for new premises was over. "We are very pleased to be here and are delighted with the support from the community, parents and coaches. Everyone has pulled together to achieve something which is beneficial to Melksham and the south west," he said.

The new premises include a dance studio, cafe, offices, changing rooms and a main gym area with sprung floor.

Work started in May after a number of difficulties over the funding.

More than £540,000 National Lottery money combined with a further £320,000 raised by the club has paid for the new building and the up-to-date equipment.

A bank loan secured at the 11th hour formed the 35 per cent of funding needed to secure the Lottery grant of £541,341.

Had the loan fallen through it would have been another in a series of setbacks.

The first successful Lottery application saw the school receiving nearly £500,000. The money had to be returned when a plan to buy a building fell through.

Junior National squad coach Tracey Stockill is the school's director of coaching. She said the new facilities would mean no-one would have to travel to train anywhere else in the country.

She helps train six girls who are in the national gym squad. "We can stay in Melksham and train rather than travel anywhere else. We hope the new centre will encourage more local talent to come forward. Someone from Melksham could be the next rising star," said Ms Stockill

The British Gymnastic Association will be looking at ways to work with the gym club and use its facilities for regional and national competitions.

"Things are really looking up for the club. We started with 35 members and there are now 500 and everyone is delighted with the new school and what it has to offer," said Mr Lewis.