Gym owners fined after staying open ‘for members’ well-being’
SOME businesses across the UK that refused to close their doors on the first day of the second lockdown have already felt the full force of the law.
Non-essential services, which currently includes gyms and hairdressers, are supposed to shut until Dec 2 under the new restrictions, but some have vowed to stay open.
Among them was Gainz Fitness and Strength, a gym in Bedford, which earlier this week said it would be staying open to support the health and wellbeing of its members.
In a Facebook post yesterday, the gym said: “Exercise in a gym is an offence – November 2020. It’s unbelievable but it’s true.” The post said that the gym “won’t stop campaigning” for the sector to be recognised as essential.
Owner Alex Lowndes said he felt a “moral obligation” to keep the gym open but yesterday the business was visited by officers from Bedfordshire Police who served a prohibition notice and issued fines to three people.
Keith Brook and Joe Davies, who run A-star Muscle and Fitness in Wakefield, W Yorks, said they were staying open as they “massively believe we are part of the solution” to the fight against Covid-19.
In a video posted on Facebook on Wednesday, Mr Davies said: “We believe what we are doing is right. We don’t know what the repercussions will be but we’re going to find out.”
Also staying open is a personal trainer, who did not want to be named, who operates from home in Hampshire.
She told The Daily Telegraph: “We are in a situation where we’ve had to choose keeping a roof over our heads and eating over closing.”
Businesses that defy the rules could be fined up to £10,000.