Staff at a Glenrothes trampoline park have spoken out about its “shock” closure.
Workers at Xtreme Trampoline Park turned up on Thursday to find the venue’s locks had been changed and a security guard inside the building.
It came after the firm that runs the centre, Sky Parc Ltd, was told it was being evicted to make way for a Poundstretcher.
The company’s sole director, Alan Bunting, was informed of the decision on Wednesday before turning up the following day to find it closed.
Firm given notice to leave by sheriff officers
The Courier reported in April how landlords for Saltire Retail Park had lodged plans with Fife Council to move Poundstretcher from its existing unit into the one occupied by the trampoline park.
At the time the operators of Xtreme insisted it was business as usual as it had not been informed of the plans.
But then the firm announced on Thursday it was closed indefinitely.
Speaking as staff gathered outside the park following the closure, a spokesperson for Xtreme said: “The first we knew about the Poundstretcher plans was from the article in The Courier – we thought it was mistake.
“We tried to get in contact with the landlord and around three weeks ago, we got got a letter sent out giving pre-notice of an irritancy to the lease.
“Sheriff officers then turned up (on Wednesday) and gave us the irritancy notice – it said to leave the premises with immediate effect because ‘you no longer have a lease’.
“The lease had been terminated, it’s horrendous.”
‘The job centre is next’
The firm says at the start of 2022, it proposed paying a lower rate of rent to its landlord due to the impact of Covid on its finances.
It claims the landlord appeared to have no objections to this.
However, the notice served three weeks ago told the company it was in rent arrears – and Sky Parc Ltd says it did not have the means to challenge this.
The spokesperson added: “The sheriff officers went away on Wednesday and we had no other contact so we stayed.
“But when we came on Thursday morning around 8.30, the locks had already been changed.
“The job centre is next, basically.”
‘What am I going to do next month’?
All 21 staff members have lost their jobs as a result of closure – with some of them only finding out the news when they turned up for work on Thursday morning.
Leon Turner, 19, who had worked at Xtreme for five years, said: “My initial reaction was, ‘What am I going to do next month?’ I have car payments and insurance to pay.
“I’ve grown up working here and this is my first job – I really wanted to stick here for a bit longer.
“I’ve worked with loads of people here and I’ve made really good friends. This could be the last I see them.”
Rebeka Millar, 16, who started working at the trampoline park nine months ago, said: “It’s sad for the owners considering it’s just been shut down as quickly as it has.
“The closure is annoying and unfair for everyone who has worked here.”
And 16-year-old Garry Taylor, who had worked at Xtreme for a little over a year, said: “It’s a shock and it’s devastating, but what can you do?
“This was my first job and it’s been a pleasure working with everyone.”
The Courier has been unable to reach landlord Sackville UK Property for comment.
Conversation