A trampolining centre for the disabled is to open after battling a storm of opposition.
Rosie Pulford finally opened the centre after a two year battle. The centre has seven trampolines for people with head injuries, autism and Down’s Syndrome.
30 year old Rosie said: “It is a huge relief to get this far. At one point we thought it would never happen.
“It has been a long journey, but I think I have a certain fight in me which makes me want to keep going.”
Rosie previously ran a centre in Smeaotn Close, Severalls Industrial Park, Colchester but has to close it down when she could not afford to keep up with the running costs.
Rosie then applied for permission to convert two of her father’s barns on his farm off Colchester Road, West Bergholt into a purpose-built centre.
The proposal was initially met with oppositions and objections from villagers who were worried about increased noise and traffic levels that the centre could bring. Colchester Council refused Rosie’s first application but she was determined to make the centre a success and re-applied. This time she was accepted.
Rosie is blind and lost her sight due to a complication with her diabetes. She has spent £60,000 converting the barns and has invested £20,000 in new equipment for the centre.
Rosie said: “Trampolining helps in all sorts of ways.
“It gives wheelchair-users a sense of freedom and is good therapy for a range of conditions and improves self-confidence.
“We have strict restrictions on noise, lighting and opening times and we hope everyone will be happy with it now.
“I know how much our customers benefit from trampolining.”