MARTIAL arts aces from an under-threat Troon centre this week opposed plans for a community asset transfer (CAT). Dundonald Gymnastics Club have applied for a CAT of Muirhead Activity Centre, which would allow them to take control of the facility.

Troon Tae Kwon Do use the facility during the holidays and are desperately hoping the proposal will not be given the go ahead. Instructor Iain Harley said: “In an average week we can have 36 to 40 people.

"Usually we train at Troon Primary School but we use this as a secondary base two or three times a year. If this wasn’t available to us we wouldn’t have anywhere else to go and we could be closed for two weeks. That would mean the students would miss out on extra training and when gradings came up some of them may not be ready for it. “This is a good local facility and if it was to go that would be a real shame. I can see why the council are trying do do this.

"But it would mean the hall was of exclusive use to one group. In the hall we are in you also have yoga, badminton, or keep fit. The idea of a sports hub not being used in the community is appalling “The plans go against the idea of a community sports centre.” Cheryl Nicholson, who has lived in the community for 20 years, is fervently opposed to the centre takeover. She said: “I started out playing badminton in this hall and my nephew used soft play, I also come here to give blood which is another issue. My daughter is three and is having a birthday party here, but that wouldn’t be an option any more. If the centre is going to be run for profit, taking that away from the community and giving it to a private community is a horrible thing.” A spokesman for South Ayrshire Council said: “An application, is currently going through our Community Asset Transfer Process. We received a number of petitions and individual responses during the consultation and all ofthese have now been passed on to the applicants for comment – in line with the established procedures. While a number of the individual signatures within the petitions could not be verified, all representations submitted will be noted. All representations received and any comments submitted will be considered as part of the Community Asset Transfer process. “