The fight to save Battersea Sports Centre continues as UKIP secretary gets 1,154 people to sign his petition.

Chris Howe, former parliamentary candidate for Battersea and acting secretary UKIP Wandsworth branch, handed the petition with 1,154 signatures to Wandsworth Town Hall on Wednesday, September 30.

He has received an acknowledgement but is still waiting for a response.

The council wants to turn the site into "nearly 100 affordable homes".

December 14: Council announces plans to replace sports centre with affordable homes

February 11: Council will close centre as battlelines are drawn

The plan to replace Battersea Sports Centre with affordable houses is part of a wider regeneration scheme of the Winstanley and York Road estates.

Mr Howe believes the teenagers and young people who use the centre should be the ones who get to decide its fate.

He said: "The sports centre belongs to the local people and visitors, not the local council.

"Let the local residents be allowed to vote to decide if they want their local sports centre and community hub bulldozed or maintained in a refurbished state."

Set to close in spring 2016, the plans for Battersea Sports Centre have been controversial since the start.

Councillors voted on Tuesday, February 10 with eight votes for the closure and four against.

Eight months down the line and Mr Howe is still fighting.

He said: "It’s never too late to counter autocracy."

A spokesperson for Wandsworth Council said: "The council decided at the start of the year to replace the ageing sports centre with nearly 100 affordable homes for people in the area on low incomes.

"Councillors agreed to invest in this new housing on the basis that there is a wide range of sports and leisure facilities in the immediate area."

Mr Howe said he is not against affordable housing but felt there are other areas in Battersea where the houses could be built.

"The playing areas, indoors and outside, and the gym could remain as they are, and some flats built above," he said.

"This would be an acceptable compromise."

Andrew Beech, 42, a personal trainer who runs boot camp lessons at Battersea Sports Centre, said: "It's disheartening, there are other facilities but it means travelling further away.

"We want something in the heart of the community."

Mr Howe agrees.

He said: "The main issue is preserving a community and its identity.

"There is no need to destroy a community hub and sports centre."