Gym seeking to open 24 hours-a-day

JD Gyms is seeking permission from Blackpool Council to extend the opening hours of its base on Vicarage Lane in Marton.

Currently the gym is allowed to open from 8am until 9pm Mondays to Fridays, and 10am to 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays, which is in line with conditions attached when planning permission was granted in 2008.

This was to protect nearby residents from suffering excessive disruption when the premises was converted to a gym.

A letter accompanying the application to extend the hours says the change is not expected to create “any adverse impacts upon residential amenity. ”

It says there would be no exercise classes at night and the aim is to cater for those, such as shift workers, who cannot regularly get to the gym during its current opening hours.

The applicant says: “The proposed extension to the operating hours is required to ensure that the gymnasium better meets the needs of its customer base and enhances its overall efficiency.

“It is now an established part of the business models of a number of ‘value’ gyms to operate throughout both day and night time hours.

“They provide access to health and fitness facilities for a variety of people who are unable to visit clubs during traditional operating hours, including shift workers and emergency service staff to the benefit of health and activity policy objectives.”

The applicant says the proposal would “increase the accessibility of health and fitness facilities to the resident population of Blackpool, enabling customers to access those facilities at any time of day in accordance with their employment and lifestyle choices.”

It adds there will be no gym classes held in the overnight period “nor will there be any noise breakout from music or the activities of gym users (i.e. the use of machines or weights). ”

The number of people using the gym is also expected to be lower than during normal daytime hours.

There is already at least one gym in Blackpool offering 24-hour access which is The Gym Group based on the ground floor of council-owned premises in Cookson Street.