The YMCA in Southport has closed its doors to members.A statement on the door says that it's no longer viable to keep the health and wellbeing centre open as this was being heavily subsidised.

Members will be entitled to a refund pro rata.

The nursery will remain open.

Saddened by this news, but not really surprised. The trustees were of poor calibre, and the CEO not up to the job.

Saddened to hear of this - many many happy memories of roller skating on a Saturday night as a teenager, first girlfriend, discos on a Friday night and trying to get served at the Guest House before hand, then later on in life - sweating like a lawn sprinkler at circuit training with Bill the Lifeguard taking it.

One of the ugliest buildings in town. Let's hope they flog the site and build something with a bit more eye-appeal.

Writing has been on the wall for a fair few years now!!!

**** poor performance by **** poor CEO and Board!!!! Board should of stepped in sooner and realised Hierachy mistakes!

CEO should dip into his bank account and pay redundancy to staff and Tony Dalton needs to hand back his MBE ASAP????

SAD SAD SAD...Local people suffering once again..... :(

I've got to agree, I think it is a weak board based upon their website. No financial experience, little experience outside the relatively fluffy world of social services. Good, well meaning people, with insufficient experience of governance, running something operational and counting the beans.

I used to go boxing there in the 70s and skating was a good place such a shame

very sad news indeed.....

I too have great memories of being there in the mid to late 70s roller skating to Quinnys Disco music ...

wonder what will happen to the building

Originally Posted by dav

One of the ugliest buildings in town. Let's hope they flog the site and build something with a bit more eye-appeal.

Hmm. Among the rabbit hutches, faceless apartment blocks and Ramada Plazas we've had built recently, the only things I can think of with any vague architectural merit are the Vincent and the new buildings down Market St and Post Office Ave, and none of them seem to respect their neighbours in the slightest.

I've been using the gym here 3 mornings per week since June. I enjoyed the facilities. I will be sad to lose the use of it.
I always found every staff member I encountered to be vey welcoming, happy and helpful.
I wish them well

Originally Posted by condemnation

i used to go boxing there in the 70s and skating was a good place such a shame

do you remember elias smith and his son derrick ?

Southport YMCA closes due to 'industry competition', that sounds like rubbish, surely it is down to selling the prize assets, evicting the tenants they used to house in the properties it owned, putting the money into the charity's bank account and systematically plundering the proceeds until there is none left. Where has all the cash gone. This started on the arrival of Humphreys, the charity's CEO and his partnership with the so called respected trustee, Tony DALTON, the man who refuses to leave the charity until it has been sunk. This Charity has been asset stripped by those in charge of it, it has failed due to its own poor governance, its lack of vision, and its refusal to be accountable to its members not because of industry competition. Not since the Kids Company Charity failure have we seen such breath taking incompetence in charge of a Charity, or has this been a deliberate plan to run the funds down, claim the charity is not fit for operation and then sell the remaining 2 buildings from under the residents and members noses. Pure shambles, by the time officials realise what has been stolen, the perps will have had their golden hand shake and be off living on the costa del crime sunning themselves! Does anyone know how they have done this???????