Gym’s lockdown law victory

A GYM owner who stayed open during lockdown has slammed the ‘flimsy’ case against him after his trial collapsed.

In November 2020, Alex Lowndes refused to shut Gainz Fitness & Strength in Bedford.

He received a £1,000 fixed penalty notice from Bedford Borough Council. But he refused to pay, leading to a series of court hearings. However, on the day of the trial which could have led to a larger £10,000 fine, the council said it needed more evidence and its request to adjourn was rejected by magistrates.

Mr Lowndes’s legal team had planned to prove his innocence by referring to a list of rule exemptions that did allow gyms to open for certain reasons.

The 34-year-old said: ‘They [the council] should have looked at it six months in and gone, “This is a waste of time”.’