‘I was told to stop running Zoom gym class when alone in the building’
COUNCIL INITIALLY TOLD BUSINESS OWNER HIS VIRTUAL LESSONS COULD NOT CONTINUE
A GYM boss says he was told to stop running virtual exercise classes from his fitness studio – despite being the only person there.
Nick Wardle said he was visited by a council official on Friday after a member of the public reported his Loughborough gym for breaching lockdown.
The 39-year-old was the only person present when the official told him he was not allowed to continue the online sessions, although Charnwood Borough Council later confirmed he could continue with the classes.
Mr Wardle, founder of Body Transformation Centre, in Biggin Street, said: “There was only me, my laptop and a telly on the wall.
“There was nobody else who could have been infected or who could have infected me – just clients safe and sound on the other end of a Zoom call.
“But he wasn’t having any of it. “He told me ‘I don’t make the rules, the rules are there in black and white’.
“I said it’s not a gym. It’s empty, most of the equipment has gone because I’ve lent most of it out.
“It’s a glorified office which I’m just using to do sessions online.
“I had to laugh, but I was absolutely fuming.
“He said he would send me an email to confirm it all, but I didn’t get one.
“I probably shouldn’t have, but I did a video on Facebook where I might have seemed a bit angry and it took off.
“Loads of people were saying how ridiculous it seemed.
“I’m working from my business premises, which I’m still paying rent on, because I can’t from home as there are family and neighbours I don’t want to disturb.
“I was more bothered about my clients.
“We know some of our clients are struggling and exercise is what’s keeping them sane.
“That’s why we wanted to keep things moving.”
A spokesman for Charnwood Borough Council said: “We received a complaint last week that the gym was being used, which would be a breach of the Covid regulations.
“An officer visited the premises on Friday and discussed the situation with the owner, who said he was using the gym for running virtual classes via Zoom.
“We advised him he could not operate the gym for the public and that we would review the situation for the Zoom classes. “We informed the owner at the earliest opportunity, which was on Monday morning, that the Zoom classes could continue.
“The Zoom classes did not have to stop immediately but we apologise if that was not clear. If we receive a complaint that a business is breaching Covid regulations then we are duty-bound to investigate.
“While we do investigate complaints, we are also proactive and offer advice and support to businesses in Charnwood about how to comply with the regulations.”
Gyms will be allowed to reopen to the public from April 12 under the government’s roadmap out of lockdown.
I had to laugh but I was absolutely fuming. Loads of people were saying how ridiculous it seemed.
Nick Wardle