A CAMPAIGN group are in a race against time to save a ‘vital’ health and fitness club in Holmes Chapel.

The AP Club, off Station Road, has been at the heart of the Holmes Chapel community for nearly 40 years but was shut down by its French owners Sanofi Aventis in December.

The What We Want for Holmes Chapel campaign, which was set up by the parish council in the wake of the club’s closure, will be holding a public meeting on Thursday January 23 to discuss the future of the club’s site.

The club itself and sports field have been registered as an Asset of Community Value by Cheshire East Council and therefore cannot be sold without the community being able to bid for it.

Clr Steve Ranger, Chairman of Holmes Chapel Parish Council, said: “We have just over six months to get that bid together and the meeting on January 23 is the first step in that process.

“Without community support the facilities at the AP Club will be lost. This is a real opportunity to give Holmes Chapel the community centre it so badly needs.”

A questionnaire has been delivered to every house in the village asking residents what facilities they feel should be kept and what new ones we could develop.

These could include indoor and outdoor sports facilities; rooms for club meetings and social events; and a community function room.

“The village has grown over the years with more and more houses but there has been no equivalent investment in community facilities,” said Clr Ranger.

“There has already been strong local interest in the campaign but it will need even more people to get involved if we are to pull off such a major community project. Please come and have your say.”

The public meeting will take place at the Victoria Club at 4.15pm on January 23. The meeting will be repeated at 7pm. For more information on the campaign call Holmes Chapel Parish Council Clerk Nicola Clarke on 01477 533934 or email www.4hc@gmail.com.