Anger at Stoke-on-Trent City Council's closure of Meir gym
GYM users say the closure of a popular council-run fitness centre will lead to health problems among the elderly.
The gym at Meir Community Education Centre will close at the end of the month due to Stoke-on-Trent City Council's spending cuts.
-
CLOSING: Alan Spooner at Meir Fitness Centre. Inset, the notice about it shutting.
Council leaders say 'innovative thinking' will allow it to keep the rest of the Pickford Place centre in use, despite it losing money.
But people who use the gym, many of whom are elderly, fear their health will suffer if they no longer have access to fitness equipment.
This Sunday between 11am & 4pm with FREE admission at the Moat House Hotel Festival Park we will be exhibiting with some special show offers, the weather forecast isn't good but our deals are
Terms: Visit us or pick up a voucher at the show to be eligible
Contact: 01782 342609
Valid until: Sunday, June 23 2013
Alan Spooner, who is diabetic and registered blind, has been using the gym, five times a week, for 16 years.
He says he will be unable to use any other fitness centre due to his disability.
The 59-year-old, of Lombardy Grove, Meir, said: "When the gym closes I don't know what I'm going to do.
"The alternative would be to go to the gyms in Fenton or Burslem, but that will be out of the question for me because of my blindness."
Alan has written a letter to council leaders, saying he will hold them responsible if his health declines.
He added: "A lot of the people who use the gym are elderly. If they can't stay fit they'll just become more of a burden on the NHS.
"I had a stroke in November. My doctor told me I was able to recover from it so well because I was so fit. Regular exercise also helps me keep my sugar levels down. If I couldn't go to the gym I'd have to take more insulin." The centre also houses four classrooms and two multi-use halls. Nearly 2,000 people signed a petition against its planned closure in 2011.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council, which is making £21 million of cuts to services, held a further consultation over the centre's future in December.
Council staff are now set to move into the centre in a plan they say will make it more cost-efficient.
Councillor and cabinet member Janine Bridges said: "We have been working very closely with the community to explore ways to ensure Meir Community Education Centre remains open, even though it has been operating at a loss. I'm really pleased that a way forward is possible.
"A number of council workers, operating from bases elsewhere in the area, will move to the centre, to ensure that the facility continues to be opened throughout the week.
"This means that community-based groups will still be able to operate from the centre, some facilities for educational use will remain, and services including a pre-school club will still be able to be based there."
10 Comments
by Whitfield Valley Centre
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 7:23PM
“I'm a trustee' for a local charity in the north of the city and I can understand how these people feel; our gym and fitness suite caters for all types of disabled people (both mental and physical) including the blind and have staff qualified to deal with GP's referrals. Our gym runs at a loss too, loosing us £1,600 every month. Yes it's hard to justify keeping the facility open, but we realise how much the local community, especially the elderly and disabled depend on it, these people can't afford to attend the larger commercial gym's and if they could would feel intimidated in this environment. It's all about getting your priorities right, we use profits from other activities to subsidise this vital facility. I wish we were nearer to Meir Fitness Centre, their clients would be most welcome here; alas we are at opposite ends of the city. I wish them luck as regrettably this could be us some time in the future, funding is becoming harder and harder to find and as things are going there will be none of this type of gym left in a few years time. Good Luck!”
by WebMonkey1
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 4:32PM
“The mandate for change is all about making peoples lives better. It just didn't say which people.”
by WebMonkey1
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 4:29PM
“The mandate for change is all about making peoples lives better. It just didn't say which people.”
by mole10
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 3:30PM
“I wonder why this Labour Council is shutting a keep fit gym?
I wonder if the answer lies in emails we aren't allowed to look at?”
by stokepotter
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 1:52PM
“SInce when have the Stoke-on-Trent Council leaders been capable of 'innovative thinking'. They cannot see much past the end of their noses. More closures, less services but still they carry on with the white elephant CIvc Centre that the electorate do not want. Still it will mean that the money saved can be spent on servicing the debt for the CBD when they are the only inhabitants there.”
by BucknallMel
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 1:17PM
“You have no need to look far to see why the council are so keen to close sports and leisure facilities. Look back at the story about Chaudry throwing his dummy because Newcastle council 'unfairly' continued to have their own swimming and sports facility close to his own gym club. He may not have got his way in Newcastle, but there will soon be nothing to rival his over-priced grubby venues in Stoke on Trent.”
by FFDP1
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 12:09PM
“Mark my words, moving staff there, something's going, my money is on Queensbury.”
by FFDP1
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 12:03PM
“Wrong and then some, and I'm going to ensure Stoke on Trent City Council know that. its no good running off at the mouth about the CBD, let's take another way, let's look at the pay of the high flyers in the Civic Center.”
by Yolo68
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 11:35AM
“The councils would prefer to spend money on a unwanted, Unneeded new building than give people a gym that really need it, What do they care that people will suffer without the gym,This council just dont give a dam.”
by Grenadier2412
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 10:31AM
“The Government along with Health professionals are constantly telling of the benefits of good diet and the need for 'keep fit'.
It seems bizarre therefore that Stoke Council have chosen to close various fitness centres which provide ideal opportunities for locals to improve their fitness and lifestyle. The NHS Lifestyle programme lists this fitness centre as one of their recommended centres.
To keep this centre open would be a fraction of the cost of one office of the new proposed Civic Centre – which is another story.
It would seem that Stoke Council are more interested in feathering their own nest with no regard to the local population but they should remember that the local population are VOTERS and put the council where they are today.”