MELROSE Could welcome its first public gym under plans to convert a former youth hostel in the town.

Plans to transform the unused hostel at Priorwood into a pay as you go gym, artist studios, and professional offices, is the brainchild of local business man Michael Crawford.

The hostel, on the outskirts of Melrose, has been closed for over three years and Mr Crawford hopes the new plans will bring more visitors to the town, as well as enhancing life for locals by providing a facility which it not currently available to them.

The J.S Crawford's chief said: “I bought the property with a self invested pension plan I have, and was required to invest in non-residential business so I saw an opportunity to be creative.

“Once I'd bought the building, I threw a post up on Facebook and asked people to offer some ideas on what to do with the space. Some people suggested a function suite or a retirement home. But I thought Melrose already has those facilities available, and I wanted to offer something different.

“I'm bringing a bit of Ibiza to the town! The pay as you go gym was just inspired by a holiday in Ibiza. All gyms there are pay as you go which is a great system. You can access the gym 24-hours a day, pay for your session there and then, and there's no need to commit to a membership or pay a joining fee. So even people visiting for the day could use it if they wanted.”

The building has twenty-two bedrooms, five reception rooms, and six bathrooms.

Mr Crawford submitted his application to Scottish Borders Council at the end of October, stating that the property will be of huge benefit the local economy by creating employment opportunities, and in providing studio space, will enable talented artists and designers that come out of the Borders' Heroit Watt University, to remain in the area post-graduation.

Scottish Borders Council said: “We would welcome its re-use for business purposes; to ensure it does not deteriorate through lack of use and to provide an opportunity for the creation of new jobs. Whilst the site is not within the main town centre, it is close enough, yet far enough away from other adjacent different uses that it will not have a material effect.

“It may also be that Melrose is close enough to the new Borders railway terminus, at Tweedbank, that it could easily support and encourage interest in additional office space.

“The building's previous use as a youth hostel meant that the sight attracted a large number of visitors, often at unsocial hours. In terms of traffic usage and usage in general, the Hostel had a capacity of seventy-five beds plus two or three live in staff. The proposal will not introduce activity into the area that has not previously existed nor will it intensify the use.”