Plans to close a community-use sport hall in a child obesity blackspot will go ahead despite opposition from councillors, residents and sports clubs.

The decision will leave hundreds of youngsters without access to sports facilities for more than a year, and will make several popular clubs homeless.

The sports hall in Broomstick Hall road is owned by King Harold's School and will be shut down to clubs in January 2010 when a shared use agreement comes to an end.

District Councillors who branded the decision short-sighted had asked for it to be looked at again by the full cabinet in a meeting last night(Thursday September 3).

But the decision to close it for over a year while a new £1.7m hall is built next door to the town swimming pool was given the final stamp of approval.

The decision has sparked fury amongst the Waltham Abbey Residents Association (WARA).

WARA spokesman Mike Smith said: "It's absolutely sickening. The entire thing is about money, these self-important people have failed an entire generation of our youngsters.

"They say that they're building a new hall in a couple of years, but what are the kids going to do in the meantime?

"They'll end up getting bored, hanging out on the streets and getting into trouble. It's such a shame - especially when they've put in all that hard work.

"They're building a Olympic venue here but they can't even keep a local sports hall open for kids? It's typical of the way the council do these things, first the Gypsy consultation, then the stupid waste bin exercise now this.

"In my opinion if they wanted to save money, rather than closing the hall why don't they just sack all the councillors who make these decisions without any interest in the thoughts of the people they're supposed to represent."

Meanwhile the council is blaming the governors of King Harold's School in Waltham Abbey who they accuse of being obstructive and unhelpful in wether they will continue to open the hall for the groups.

King Harold's have been approached several times for comment by the Guardian, but have so far failed to respond.