Gym springs into action

A disused building in the centre of a Moray town has been given a new lease of life as magnet for keep-fit fans.

Local man Shawn Milne has completed a £400,000 project to transform an abandoned property in Buckie’s High Street into the Motion Fitness gym.

The 24-year-old now employs 15 full and part-time staff at the venue.

Mr Milne expects the development to provide a health and jobs boost for the port.

His father, Charlie Milne, owns the Banff Springs Hotel and the Regency Garage in Buckie – and recognised the potential for developing the premises.

His son had been eager to launch the town’s first privately-operated gymnasium, and he realised that the site could prove the ideal spot for it.

He said: “The building had been lying empty for about four years, and we bought it two years ago and began working on it.

“It’s actually much bigger on the inside than it looks from the outside, it goes back quite a long distance.

“I knewit could work as a gym, and had a firm from Glasgow design the layout.

“Before this, Buckie only had one gym, which is run by the council and is attached to the swimming pool.

“Between paying for the building, and adding all the bits and pieces, it has cost £400,000 overall.”

The gym is divided into several sections, with one area reserved exclusively for female members.