HEALTH & FITNESS

IN BRIEF

Harrow Leisure Centre plans dumped

The newly-elected Labour

leaders of Harrow Council in London have announced that their Tory predecessors' plans to redevelop Harrow Leisure Centre will be scrapped. Instead, council leader Bill Stephenson told the Harrow Times that he was proposing a combined library and arts centre and a new leisure centre and function hall. The project, designed by architects at Kier Group in partnership with Saunders Architects, was to include an eight-court sports hall, four squash courts, two multi-use studios, a 25m, eight-lane swimming pool with spectators' area, a learner pool and a gym.

The Gym Group secures new Plymouth site

UK-based low-cost health club

operator The Gym Group (TGG) has further expanded its portfolio after securing a new site in Plymouth, Devon. The new 175-station gym, which will be equipped by Matrix Fitness Systems, is one of five new sites to launch this year and adds to the company's existing six facilities across the country. Launched by chief executive officer John Treharne in 2008, TGG is open 24 hours a day throughout the week and offers a membership rate of £14.99 a month with no contracts.

BMF set to launch new training venue

Outdoor training provider British Military Fitness (BMF) will unveil its 100th venue at Abington Park in Northampton on 14 June. Established in 1999 by Major Robin Cope, the provider offers hour-long exercise classes at locations across the UK, allowing people of all ability levels to take part in military-style workouts.

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£1m gym for Crystal Palace complex

New health and fitness zone forms part of wider £20m upgrade of London venue

By Pete Hayman

Crystal Palace National Sports Centre (CPNSC) has launched its new health and fitness suite, following a £1m investment by London-based sports trust Greenwich Leisure (GLL). The scheme, which forms

part of a wider £20m pro- gramme to upgrade the venue, was carried out alongside the London Development Agency (LDA) and included the creation of five dedicated fitness zones. A new Aerobikes studio,

which has been fitted with 15 bikes and simultrainers; a

100-station cv and resistance area equipped by Technogym and a space for stretching and core work are among the new zones at the centre. The health and fitness suite,

which also boasts a free weight zone and a Vario Room, is designed to provide facilities for CPNSC users of all abilities

Fitness sector survey launched

SkillsActive and the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) have unveiled the seventh Working in Fitness survey – one of the largest studies of its kind in the UK. The survey, which will be conducted online until

19 July, aims to monitor job satisfaction, training and salary trends within the fitness industry. Open to every industry

professional – either full or part-time, or self-em- ployed – the study attracted nearly 1,500 responses in 2009 and looks at how the sector rewards its workforce.

GLL's Russ Barnes (left) with club centre manager Haseen Gokani

and complements the venue's existing 50m swimming pool. GLL partnership manager

Tony Wallace said: "With the London Olympics and Paralym- pics on the horizon, our aim is for the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre to be a hub of excellence in sport both leading up to 2012 and beyond. The local community, schools, clubs and centre users have a great opportunity to

train and rub shoulders with world class athletes." LDA deputy chief executive

Peter Bishop added: "These health and fitness facilities will bring more people in to the National Sports Centre." Other improvements due to

be carried out at the centre this year include the creation of a new junior health and fitness zone, a new climbing wall and refurbished squash courts.

Overhaul for Atherstone facility

By Pete Hayman

Plans for a £100,000 revamp of the Lifetimes Fitness Suite at Atherstone Leisure Complex have been given the green light by North Warwickshire Borough Council (NWBC). The venue – due to reopen

on 4 June – will benefit from equipment and technical advice from Matrix Fitness Systems as part of the work, which aims to improve facilities for users. New IFI-accredited cv and

strength Matrix equipment will be offered at the fitness suite, which will also benefit from new flooring and decor. Peter Wheaton, leisure

facilities manager at NWBC, said: "This investment in the

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The new-look fitness suite will be equipped by Matrix

Lifetimes Fitness Suite at Atherstone Leisure Complex will ensure we keep our commitment to help improve health and wellbeing opportu- nities for the community." Matrix managing director Jon

Johnston added: "The new equipment will vastly improve the members' gym experience."

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