Staff stunned as trampoline park is closed

Xtreme Trampoline Park in Glenrothes faced an unexpected closure, leaving staff members stunned. Upon arriving at work on Thursday, employees found the locks changed and a security guard present, signalling the end of operations. Sky Parc Ltd, the company managing the facility, received an eviction notice as the premises are to be occupied by a Poundstretcher store. Alan Bunting, the sole director of the company, was notified of this decision on Wednesday, only to discover the closure the next day. Earlier this year, plans were lodged by Saltire Retail Park’s landlords to relocate Poundstretcher into the unit occupied by Xtreme, as reported by The Courier in April. Xtreme, however, claimed they were unaware of these plans at the time and insisted it was business as usual. Nevertheless, the company made a sudden announcement on Thursday, stating an indefinite closure. During a gathering outside the park after the closure, an Xtreme spokesperson expressed their surprise and frustration, stating that they first learned about the Poundstretcher plans through the newspaper article. Attempts to contact the landlord were made, but three weeks ago they received a letter indicating a pre-notice of termination of the lease. Sheriff officers arrived on Wednesday to deliver the notice, instructing them to vacate the premises immediately. Xtreme had proposed a reduced rent rate to their landlord at the beginning of 2022 due to the financial impact of the pandemic. They claim that the landlord initially showed no objections. However, the recent notice accused the company of rent arrears, leaving Sky Parc Ltd unable to challenge the claim. The closure resulted in the loss of all 21 staff members’ jobs. Some employees only discovered the news when they arrived for work on Thursday morning, with the suddenness of the closure leaving them worried about their future financial obligations, with 19-year-old Leon Turner, who had worked at Xtreme for five years, expressing his concern about car payments and insurance. The closure also marked the end of valuable friendships and work experiences. Rebeka Millar, a 16-yearold employee for nine months, lamented the unfairness of the sudden closure and sympathised with the owners. Garry Taylor, another 16-year-old who had worked at Xtreme for just over a year, described the closure as shocking and devastating. The Courier attempted to contact the landlord, Sackville UK Property, for comment but was unsuccessful.

NO WARNING: The staff arrived at work on Thursday morning only to find the locks had been changed and discover that they were out of work. Picture by Laura Devlin.