The use of the rollerskating venue at Great Yarmouth's Marina Centre has been offered to other local skating clubs.

Eastern Daily Press: Retroskate in Great Yarmouth boarded up. Picture: George RyanRetroskate in Great Yarmouth boarded up. Picture: George Ryan (Image: Archant)

A notice of forfeiture was posted on the front of the venue which has been used by Retroskate for several years on Monday.

The front door was boarded up by Sentinel Leisure Trust, who run the Marina Centre, and staff and club members were unable to gain entry to the building.

Managing director of Sentinel Stuart Everett said his organisation ended Retroskate's lease of the arena over the weekend and on Monday made direct contact with other artistic roller skating clubs to offer them use of the venue.

Eastern Daily Press: Retroskate. (L TO R) Ellen Siegert, Harlee Wicks, Dulcie Read and Daisy Jennings. Picture: James BassRetroskate. (L TO R) Ellen Siegert, Harlee Wicks, Dulcie Read and Daisy Jennings. Picture: James Bass (Image: Archant Norfolk � 2016)

MORE: Outrage at decision to close rollerskating venueHe added: 'The trust is eager to find suitable activities or organisations including local artistic roller-skating clubs that wish to hire the space to enable continued community use and operations.'

The head coach at the Stalham Artistic Roller Skating Club, who use the main sports hall at the Marina Centre for training, said they had received an email from Sentinel.

Martin Pickering said his club had no plans to take them up on the offer, as it was not suitable for their purposes.

He also offered his support for Retroskate and said he would be willing to share some floor time in the sports hall with the other club to help.

He added: 'The kids are the most important thing here. If it means children are going to miss out on some championships, we would try our best to fit them in and help them.'

Retroskate's shock

Managing director of Retroskate Phillip Read confirmed there is an 'ongoing issue' with the nature of the Retroskate's tenancy with Sentinel.

He said: 'Retroskate are in the process of initiating legal action to resolve the issue and hope to be operating again soon.

'We will be working with our partners and customers to ensure that we can protect any existing functions. Our position is that we are not in breach of any of our contractual obligations and will be robustly defending this position legally.

'We were shocked and upset to find that we could not access the Retroskate rink this morning as we had been given no advance notice of Sentinel's proposed actions.

'The borough council are aware of the current status but we wish to make it clear that as 'superior landlords' they have played no part in this current issue.'

In a statement, Great Yarmouth Borough Council who own the Marina Centre complex, said: 'The council understands that the sub tenant is in breach of their tenancy and Sentinel have initiated legal action as landlord. This is a matter between the landlord and sub tenant. The council would hope that Sentinel will take the view that the space will continue to remain available to the artistic roller skating clubs to ensure that members are not disadvantaged. The council cannot comment further due to the legal position between these two parties.'