Sports Direct Fitness Centre in Bury St Edmunds Easlea Road near Moreton Hall Estate safe after West Suffolk Council vote to refuse change of use

Residents are celebrating after plans to change a ‘lifeline’ Bury St Edmunds gym to a retail facility were refused.

Staff and members of Sports Direct Fitness gym in Easlea Road opposed the proposals, which were submitted to West Suffolk Council by the landlord.

These would have seen the building change use from a fitness centre to a shop, but were rejected by the council’s development control committee on Wednesday after some councillors voiced worries about the loss of leisure facilities for the area.

However, the plan will come back before the committee as councillors went against officers' recommendation.

Melanie Soanes, who spearheaded the campaign alongside Carol Smithson and Michael Crichton and spoke on behalf of gym members in the council meeting, said after the decision: “We’ve got 3,000 members and I just wanted to be the voice, to let people know that this place is important to babies, toddlers, teenagers, all ages.

“It is a community and a lifeline.”

The mum-of-two, who has been a member for 22 years and whose teenage sons both visit regularly, said she was thrilled about the planning application being declined and hoped the amenities would remain for a long time for members to enjoy.

The site is also home to a hairdresser, beautician and personal trainers who shared member’s worries about the future of the building.

Katie Jones, a retained firefighter and self-employed fitness instructor at the gym, said: “I didn’t sleep last night because I was worried that it might well be the case that we might lose our jobs.

“Not only have the members saved the gym but they’ve also saved 25 to 30 people’s jobs.”

And Clarissa Grahn, who owns a beauty salon in the centre, said: “My heart just sank the other day when I heard the news that it could possibly be shut down.

“After Covid setting up my salon here it has been so busy, so to be told I might have to relocate somewhere new was really scary.”

The plan had been recommended for approval on the condition that the developer paid a contribution to be used towards replacement swimming pool capacity in the town.

But several councillors voiced support for the residents’ plea to save the facilities.

Cllr Jason Crooks, of the Moreton Hall ward, said: “Residents care about it, residents use it, and we should support them.”

Cllr David Smith, of Haverhill South, said: “We need to keep these sorts of things within accessible spots for our residents.”

The plans were refused on the basis of loss of leisure facilities.