Members of a community centre in Mottingham are ‘up in arms’ after new rules will restrict their ability to use nearby swimming and gym facilities.

From September 1, members of Eric Liddell Sports Centre, which is part of Eltham College, will have limited access to the facilities that they have used for over 30 years.

Over 200 locals regularly use the centre’s swimming pool, sports hall, gym and indoor cricket nets.

However, Eltham College has said that due to an increase in demand for the facilities, and a need for more rigorous safeguarding, access to outsiders must be reduced.

Access to members will be cut from around 32 hours to 2 hours a week - a nearly 95 per cent cut in swimming time.

Bobby Welch, who uses the facility several times a week said the centre had been “knitted into” the daily routines of many people.

He said retirees swim every day and rely on the centre for improvements to their physical and mental health.

“It’s built a community in itself, lots of people have become friends and everyone’s very upset about it.

“One woman is swimming the Atlantic every time she goes, she’s already halfway through,” he said.

Mr Welch claimed there was no consultation, and that residents were only given a month’s notice of the changes.

He said that members felt like an “inconvenience” and that the reduced timings offered members little.

“It’s like giving a rubber bone to a starving dog. It’s something that does not replace what we value and treasure,” he added.

Guy Sanderson, Headmaster of Eltham College, said that the school had “reluctantly” had to make changes, due to stricter national regulations.

He said: “We value the custom of our members and recognise the health benefits use of the Eric Liddell Sports Centre brings to local people. It will continue to remain open for the local community to use, albeit with more limited hours.”

“We have had to make some changes to our opening hours, reluctantly, to help us comply with stricter national regulations for child safeguarding that limit access to school facilities for members of the public when in use by College students. In addition, the College swimming squads and water polo teams have grown in popularity in recent years and this places greater demand on sports facilities for our pupils through the day.

“However, we are continuing to offer monthly gym memberships and a range of swimming sessions to the general public including lane swimming and family sessions at weekends and during the school holidays as well as swimming lessons for children and adults in the local community.”