£90,000 pumped into Barton gym plan (From Oxford Mail)

£90,000 pumped into Barton gym plan

5:20pm Wednesday 17th February 2010 in

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EXERCISE fans in Barton and Headington will soon be able to work up a sweat after councillors gave planning permission for a £90,000 gym.

Oxford City Council, in partnership with Fusion Lifestyles, can now start building a single-storey extension to Barton Pool, after the scheme was endorsed by the authority’s north east area committee yesterday.

Residents campaigned for a gym to be included in the original plans for the estate’s four-lane swimming pool but were told at the time the council did not have enough money.

Now, more than three years after the pool opened in Waynflete Road, residents will finally get the gym, which will include about 40 pieces of equipment, and 10 car park spaces.

Sue Holden, secretary of Barton Community Association, said: “I’m absolutely thrilled the council saw fit to spend the money in this way.

“We’ve got all these young men up here with excess testosterone to get rid of and this is the one way people of that age can work through their energies.

“We wanted it to be installed at the time but there wasn’t enough money in the pot, so we have had to wait.

“We would never have let them put this on the backburner though, but bless them, the council has come up trumps.

“This will be an affordable way for people to keep fit and to improve their lifestyles, which is so important.”

The scheme comes after the council set aside more than £2m to improve the city’s leisure facilities, which are now run by charitable trust Fusion Lifestyles on a 10-year contract.

No objections to the scheme were received from residents.

Bob Timbs, the council’s executive board member for leisure and sport, said: “The gym will become one of the most valuable assets Barton has had in years.

“It will make this leisure centre a real key part of the community, with a swimming pool, dance studio and now a new gym.

“Headington needs this gym and I’m hoping we can get more local people living fitter and healthier lifestyles as a result.”

The gym is expected to open in October.