A Dumfries gym owner has accused the council of turning a blind eye to town centre businesses.
Paul Lowther of 24/7 fitness hit out at the authority’s decision to approve plans for a new gym at the Cuckoo Bridge retail park on the outskirts of town.
NewRiver, which owns the site, applied to bring The Gym Group to an empty unit that was previously used by Laura Ashley.
Mr Lowther objected to the proposal and spoke against the application at the planning committee but it was approved.
He said: “I just thought the council turned a blind eye to local businesses.
“From the start of the application to the end they never once consulted any local businesses.
“They never once came round or did any background checks. I feel they never bothered and they weren’t interested.
“The same plan got rejected three years ago because they said the town didn’t need a gym and now, after more have opened up, it’s passed. I think it’s ridiculous.”
The report to councillors noted that the gym would create 15 jobs but concerns for current town centre facilities were highlighted during the meeting.
Mr Lowther told members: “The Cuckoo Bridge site was built on the condition that it was to facilitate companies which sold bulky goods.
“It will suddenly become very appealing for companies already trading in the town centre to make a move. Why would they struggle away in a town centre with dying foot traffic and investment?
“Saying this won’t directly impact the town centre is simply not true.
“The gym assessment report also contains many failings. It suggests there is a lack of low cost gyms. DG1, Impact Gym, 24/7 Fitness and Fusion Fitness are examples of low cost gyms in the town which range from £15 to £25 a month.
“I’ve spoken to three other town centre based gyms and they believe this will have a directly negative impact.”
Part of the issue related to planning conditions which meant the unit could only be used for “bulky goods retailing”.
However Christine Fraser, agent for Q+A Planning, explained that NewRiver “vigorously marketed” the vacancy at the retail park since June, 2016 but there was “no meaningful market interest”.
She added: “The benefits to Dumfries are clear; the re-use of a prominent unit which would otherwise stay vacant, £600,000 of capital investment into Dumfries, 15 new full-time job opportunities, the introduction of a low-cost, high quality gym with flexible membership options and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle.”
Members approved the application subject to conditions.
NewRiver is also working on a separate planning application to bring Food Warehouse – part of the Iceland chain – to a different unit at Cuckoo Bridge.
He added: “Officers consider the supporting information has satisfied the sequential assessment, impacts on the town centre and has demonstrated a qualitative deficiency in (existing gym) provision and, as such, it’s considered the proposal has met the requirements of LDP2 policy.”
