£1.2m Spent On Improving Gym But Not The Playing Fields

A £1.2m project to improve Beverley Leisure Centre has began this week but the project does not include improving or addressing the playing field issue in the town.

Gym membership is big business, in the UK alone it is thought close to £200m per year is spent by consumers with £37m each year wasted on unused gym memberships.

Locals will be delighted to learn that  the current gym will be doubled in size with a new facility that will be at the back of the Leisure Centre while the current gym is being converted into a dance studio.

During the project which is scheduled to last eight months users of the gym are being assured that the disruption will be kept to an absolute minimum.

Other improvements include additional parking as the council look to pull in a million people a year to the Beverley Leisure Centre.

Commenting on the project Stephen Parnaby said;

“I am delighted that we are able to launch this latest investment in leisure and health across the East Riding, following our recent significant investments in Haltemprice and Bridlington, and there is no doubt that this new Tone Zone will be an invaluable improvement to what is already a hugely popular facility in Beverley.”

“This council will continue to invest in leisure and health facilities which are of direct benefit to our residents, and our prudent financial management over a period of many years allows us to maintain this investment programme.”

“Investment like this today is in reality a saving for taxpayers tomorrow – we are encouraging people to be active and so improve their health and wellbeing, which in turn will mean less demand on the region’s health services in the future.”

While the leader of the council is hoping people in Beverley will welcome the chance to the keep fit and live a healthy life there is nothing in project to address the problems of lack of playing fields at the Beverley Leisure Centre.

When asked about the playing fields at the Beverley Leisure Centre the council responded;

“The emerging Local Plan has a positive approach to protecting and improving sports fields.”

“The plan includes a requirement that approximately one hectare of outdoor playing space is included in the mixed-use allocation for land south of Beverley Leisure Centre, to help address a deficit in outdoor playing space in the town.”

“The council is working closely with local clubs in the town to discuss their future plans and priorities such as funding for new playing pitches, relocating teams where necessary and improvements to their facilities through seeking external funding.”