Samson's Gym in Eastleigh to be demolished after kidnapping

Samson’s gym on Chamberlayne Road, Eastleigh was closed in October 2018 after a ‘gang’ of six people, including the gym’s owner, Daniel Harkins, were jailed for kidnapping a businessman.

A court heard at the time how Harkins and the group of men kidnapped Richard Baker, an owner of a car business in West End, as they were on a mission to find two people who they believed were connected with an arson attack at the gym.

Harkins was sentenced to nine years in prison for his role and the gym was subsequently shut.

• Men 'bent on revenge attacked kidnap victim with screwdriver' after fire at Samson's Gym in Eastleigh, court hears

Now though, the building is set to be demolished with Eastleigh Borough Council notifying residents about plans to knock down the former gym, as well as the crockery arts and workshop buildings also on the site.

A proposed date for the demolition has been set for May 17, but prior approval is said to be required before work can commence regarding issues like noise and traffic.

In 2018 over 1,000 people signed a petition in a bid to convince the council to retain the facility.

• Petition launched to save Samson's Gym in Eastleigh

Speaking on the demolition plans, the gym goer who launched the petition, Julian Howard, said: “It is a shame, I’ve lived here 41 years and that building’s always been there.

“I know you can’t just hang on to the past but it provided a well needed service and a lot of people supported the gym. People would travel from Southampton and the surrounding towns to go there.”