Cheer-io says council

Cheerleaders training interrupted by loss of facilities

AMONG THE YOUNG people at cheerleading rehearsals at Liberton High School there could be some future Olympians, as the sport has now been recognised by the International Olympic Committee.

Diamond Cheerleaders have held their practice sessions in the gym hall where there is a lot of excitement in the air – as well as some of the young athletes. In addition to Olympic status for their sport this group has been successful in a bid to compete in Florida in April next year at the end of season Summit. The cheerleaders hope to travel to the States for training and to see the “Worlds” – as long as they can raise enough money to get them there.

But The City of Edinburgh Council who manage the let of the premises at Liberton

High School have advised that the group has to leave and find somewhere else to train since they are not a “Tier One” tenant. They will instead give the space in the gym to a dance group who have that status. The matter remains unresolved.

Gill Samuel who runs Black Diamonds with her daughter Natalie said: “We are no further forward. The council met with us but will not let the premises to us on Mondays and Tuesdays. We have lodged a complaint but this will not be heard until mid July. We have more than 1090 signatures on a petition on our Facebook and Instagram pages. Some of our parents set it up. We still hope that the council will speak to us as we feel totally ignored.”

The cheerleaders were offered alternatives at Portobello or Castlebrae but neither of these is suitable according to Gill who explained they need huge mats for safety reasons and there is nowhere to store these as there is in Liberton. The headteacher of Liberton High has offered them the Assembly Hall, but the school would always have priority over using that space. Other councils - Midlothian and East Lothian - have been in contact to see what they can do to help by offeering training facilities.

Gill said: “Some of our young people have autism or Asperger’s. Change is not good for them - and anyway to get to Portobello some of them would have to take three buses.”

COMMENTS ONLINE ARE HEARTFELT...

Caitlin McDonald said: “Unreal! my girl attends liberton high 3 times a week for cheer. She absolutely loves it. the coaches work so hard with these girls and to take away there training hall is a disgrace!!”

Shannon Doherty said: “the coaches and kids work sooo hard and to take away this facility from the club is shocking! the confidence this cheer club has given my niece has been amazing and to take it away would just be shameful!”