Lockdown lifting: Fitness sector calls on Prime Minister to let them open to boost the health of the nation

Fears of the virus spreading in closed environments, compounded by preconceptions of people sweating and breathing heavily, plus changing and showering, have seen gyms empty and locked for most of the past year.

Now, as the UK is set to emerge from its third lockdown, gym owners and fitness instructors are calling on the Prime Minister to think of the wider health benefits - and allow them to open in order to get the nation’s health back on track.

Ash Carter, from Whiteley, has been a fitness instructor for six years since leaving the military.

In December, he was delighted to open his first bricks and mortar gym - On Form in Gull Coppice - only for it to be closed by the government rules three weeks later.

Ash, 33, said: ‘It was so disappointing. We lasted three weeks. We are trying to stay positive. It will come back again.

‘I would like to see it be able to open back up again. My view is that it is one of the most controlled environments out there. There are not many places where everything is cleaned and wiped down thoroughly after it is touched, and where it is so strict with where people are allowed to stand.’

Throughout lockdown Ash has taken his classes online and outdoors, sticking to one-on-one training to stay within the rules.

However he says that this is not enough for some people - and he worries about their overall health.

He said: ‘Fitness has become something that has to be done, like brushing your teeth, we have lost some of the enjoyment that you get through large group classes. People should look forward to their training.

‘It is so easy to preconceive things, but personal training is all about the science and the facts. Looking at the numbers, gyms are safe places and we should be one of the first to be allowed to open again.’

For Q Shillingford, who runs the Heart of Portsmouth Boxing Academy, which trains scores of youngsters in the city, the need to get people back together has never been greater.

He hopes to see a relaxation of the number of people allowed to meet and train outside, so that small groups can get back to training.

He said: ‘We are hoping to see us return to what it was like in tier two where we can train in small groups outside.

‘Then we can start getting kids together and social again for the benefits of their mental health more than anything.

SEE ALSO: Project that aims to break down digital barriers in Portsmouth given a boost

‘This would allow them to start practising and getting fit and ready for competitions.

‘If the Prime Minister says that we are to continue what we are doing then that’s no good.

‘I know we can’t open the gym just yet, but if we can start making steps slowly and carefully toward groups, we can get the club back together again.’

Q also called on the government to give grants to clubs in order to buy outside equipment, such as marquees, to enable training to go ahead outdoors in all weathers.

He said: ‘We are doing the best we can, but just need a bit of help.’

Gareth Johnson, director of Gym01 in Fratton, has taken his gym’s plight up with local politicians, with Portsmouth North MP Penny Mordaunt backing his calls for training bubbles to be created last year.

He said: ‘We are all eagerly awaiting the PM’s roadmap announcement and of course we are hopeful of a speedy re-opening following the announcement.

‘Realistically though, despite evidence that the transmission rates in sports and in gyms has been proven to be very low the government does not seem to prioritise physical and mental health amongst the public.

‘Our members are certainly missing the physical benefits, just as much as the mental.’

He said he worries they won’t be allowed to open until the summer, and called for more financial support.

He added: ‘For us as a business that would be catastrophic. We really are hanging by a thread right now.’

Jo Perkins, a personal trainer from Waterlooville, agreed.

She said: ‘Hopefully outdoor fitness will be able to continue.

‘The reopening of gyms and smaller studios is also key, with the necessary covid guidelines in place, to reconnect and socialize, which is a huge part of the fitness journey for many people’s mental and physical wellbeing.’

Another group that has been forced to take their sessions outside is the Ladies Bootcamp, run by Liam Walsh.

Liam has been running bootcamp style classes in Fareham and Gosport for many years, and last year he rented space at The Great Barn in Titchfield, however lockdown rules brought this to a halt.

Since then he has set up a wide programme of online classes and has been holding outdoors one-on-one personal training sessions at Titchfield Recreation Ground, sticking to the government guidelines. But he says this has pushed up prices as he has struggled to balance the books.

Liam, from Knowle, said: ‘Spending more than 20 years working within fitness I can confidently speak on behalf of everyone within the industry when I say that we’re all extremely hopeful that the government will announce the re-introduction of coached exercise sessions.

‘The vast majority of UK businesses have been negatively affected by lockdowns, but being told to stop delivering a Covid secure service to people that actually helps increase their survival rate of the virus, makes it even more frustrating.

‘Fitness businesses such as ours and thousands more throughout the UK, consistently help people to increase their aerobic fitness level, and also fight this country's obesity crisis.’

He said that he has had no cases of Covid from his facility, despite regularly training more than 100 people.

He said: ‘When you study the data showing low infection rates within fitness facilities, it further begs the question why the government hasn't allowed Covid-secure exercise sessions to continue.

‘I believe some of the relief budget should be invested into the fitness sector so that proven coaching programmes can be made available to everyone.

‘We sincerely hope the government recognises the importance of fitness and that Monday’s announcement therefore enables us to re-open our facility so that can help people stay physically and mentally well.’

Their calls for more support were echoed by Ross McNally, chief executive at business group Hampshire Chamber.

He said: ‘Any easing of lockdown does not mean businesses that are struggling will suddenly bounce back. It will take time.

‘The government must maintain and evolve the business support it has been providing through furlough, grants, tax deferrals and other measures.

‘The aim must be to help businesses gradually move to self-sufficiency throughout 2021 and not face a cliff edge caused by a withdrawal of support in just a few weeks’ time.

‘The high street desperately needs to come back to life, with independent shops, eateries, pubs and so on all reopening, but this must be done on a sensible, socially distanced basis with continuing government help.

‘At the same time, gyms and other leisure pursuits must have special attention. They are valuable to public health after all.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

You can subscribe here for unlimited access to Portsmouth news online - as well as fewer adverts, access to our digital edition and mobile app.