Plans for 24-hour gym are passed

An application that could see a Spalding store turned into a 24-hour gym has been passed by planners.

Switha Ltd has been told it can turn the Carpetright store on Westlode Street.
It doesn’t need planning permission but did apply to South Holland District Council for a Lawful Use Certificate.
Officers have now decided to approve the application.
With the shop still open, it’s not clear if the application is referring to the full building or just part of it.
The Voice has approached Carpetright for a comment, but had not received a response at the time of going to press.
The district council received objections to the proposal from one person and support from one other.
Objectors said the car park shared with B&M is not big enough and that there’s not a need for more gyms in Spalding and it would affect others including the Castle Sports Complex, though the ‘need’ for a premises is not a planning matter.
A letter in support said it “will do wonder for the gym culture in the town, many gyms feel elitist and prevent people from going, especially people who need it the most.
“Having 24 hours space that has adequate facilities, is easily accessible for most of Spalding with a nurturing access will hopefully change the gym culture in our town for the better.”
The report by planning officers states that the gym is appropriate use in an ‘edge of centre’ location.
It continues: “Spreading the car parking over a 24-hour period for a gym will change the parking patterns meaning off peak use will flatten the pattern of car parking over a longer period.
“Noise from the gym is controllable via other legislation rather than planning, but in any event it is not considered that a gym would be particularly noisy from the outside of the building.”