Border Telegraph | News | New 24-hour gym set for Gala

Tuesday, 6th January, 2009

Published: Wednesday, 5th November, 2008 09:00

New 24-hour gym set for Gala

By David Knox and Ally McGilvray

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AN empty Galashiels store has jumped on the treadmill to become the Borders’ first round-the-clock gym.

Fife-based Time Fitness want to turn the former Intersport building on Market Street into a 24-hour health club.

The prominent shop has been empty since February - and this week’s announcement has been welcomed by community leaders.

Time Fitness opened their first gym in Cupar earlier this year - and plan to open as many as 12 further fitness clubs over the coming year in towns such as Peebles, St Andrew’s, Haddington and North Berwick.

Managing director Paul Bodger told the Border Telegraph: “We selected Galashiels as, like Cupar, we feel it has been neglected by the large fitness chains.

“We feel there is a demand for 24 hours opening with the amount of workers employed on shifts at places like the hospital, nearby factories and the supermarkets.”

This week’s planning application would see the vacant store split into two units with 5,000 sq ft dedicated to the fitness club and the remaining 1600 sq ft retained for retail.

Mr Bodger added: “The landlords are keen to subdivide and it will leave a good-sized retail space at the front of the building with us at the back.

“Our early conversations with the planning department have been very positive.”

Time Fitness hope to attract between 400 and 600 members.

Galashiels community council chairman , Bill White, welcomed the move. He said: “Any plans to make use of an empty building in the town centre can only be good for the area.

“I have always said that Galashiels needs better leisure facilities.

“The shopfront at what was Intersport has become a bit tatty since it closed, but I can’t see the gym working 24 hours each day.”

If planning permission is granted Time Fitness hope to have the new gym open by the end of next February.

Galashiels community council secretary Pauline Ward, who works nightshift, said: “This sounds like a great idea.

“With Tesco and Asda already open round the clock Galashiels could become the New York of the Borders - the metropolis that never sleeps.”

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