Members of a former gym have abandoned their plans to open a new community-run fitness centre.
The Oakham Co-operative Fitness group had hoped to open a replacement facility following the closure of Catmose Sports Centre earlier this year.
They set up a community interest company and raised more than £4,000 through Crowdfunding to get the project off the ground, but they hit a snag when plans for a new gym at the Co-op Supermarket in Burley Road were announced last month.
On Saturday (July 13) Oakham Co-operative Fitness decided that it won’t be going ahead with its proposal.
A spokesperson said: “Unfortunately we have taken the decision that we cannot make Oakham Co-operative Fitness work.
“Since the closure of Catmose, we have seen Oakham School expand their offer of group fitness classes and develop plans to further expand their gym. They were able to move really quickly into some of the space left by Catmose.
“In addition, we have seen the announcement of the opening of a new gym in the Co-Op store on Burley Road. At the time we were putting our business plan together, we did not expect either of these things to develop in the way that they have. As a result, we cannot offer our members an experience that will represent good value and therefore sustain a large enough membership to cover the high rental costs in Oakham: this makes Oakham Co-operative Fitness no longer viable.
“We are really disappointed at this outcome. We believed really firmly in what we were doing and the need to provide a community fitness hub for Oakham. We’ve put a lot of work in because we wanted this to work. We know that many of you are going to be disappointed too: we are sorry to be disappointing you.
“We hope that you are able to find a new place to pursue your fitness and to build community around that. We know just how important that is.”
Catmose Sports Centre was based at Catmose College in Oakham and had more than 700 members. Its future was under threat for more than a year but it closed for good in May when Rutland County Council confirmed it couldn’t afford to subsidise the facility any longer.
The members of Catmose Co-operative Fitness had hoped to replicate the inclusive community feel they experienced at Catmose Sports Centre and were in talks with a local landlord about opening their own facility.
Anyone who donated to the project via the Gofundme page will receive a refund within 10 working days, minus a 2.9% plus 25p transaction fee.
The owners of Method Health Club Ltd are still waiting to hear whether they can open a fitness centre within the Co-op supermarket in Burley Road. It would include gym equipment, studios, two saunas and an ice bath.
A planning application was submitted to the county council in June. If it is approved, the gym will open next year.