A BOXING coach says he is continuing to search for a home for a gym after plans to convert a business unit were rejected - and says the move will benefit Whitchurch.
Daniel Bailey runs Elite Legionaries, The Fort Boxing Club and recently saw application to turn a building into a boxing facility in Leons Business Park in Heath Road turned down by Shropshire Council.
The club opened in Bronington in 2019, but it has no permanent base at present and is currently holding sessions in Whixall Social Centre.
But ex-soldier Daniel has received strong support from people in the town for a boxing facility and still hopes to open a gym in Whitchurch.
READ MORE: Plan for boxing facility on Whitchurch business park refused
He said: "We have had a lot of support.
"People know that I am passionate about boxing and have been asking when is it coming into Whitchurch.
"I get messages weekly asking me about how the process is going in Whitchurch and from people about how it will be good for their sons and daughters."
Daniel has worked with young people in the past, and spoke about the benefits boxing can bring to them.
He added: "I teach boxing in schools and I am surrounded by young people.
"I get an understanding of the stress which is occuring in the school period, especially for the Year 11s with the extra stress of taking GCSEs.
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"The gym is a good stress release for young people."
The ex-soldier added: "Boxing is a very disciplined sport. It disciplined in an enjoyable way and gives people a sense of belonging.
"People keep asking when the gym is opening, they want to be involved.
"Nine times out of 10, the lads and females in Whitchurch are tense. There is nothing to do and they are looking for things to do. And this can lead some to go down the wrong road.
"But if they are working within a safe environment within a boxing gym it'll be a life saver for a few."
Daniel served 12 years in the British Army where he became head boxing coach in his batallion and turned an empty building into a boxing facility when he was based in Northern Ireland.
He said: "I transformed a empty warehouse into a gym.
"I got appointed to become the 2nd Batallion The Rifles head coach.
"I have achieved my high performance Level 3 coaching qualification through through England Boxing.
"It was over a 12 year period of developing myself as a coach.
"Now I have completed that and I am out of the army, it is time to show my experience to the communities in Whitchurch and the surrounding area."
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