Active Performance gym to open in Kingsmead, King's Cliffe

A new community gym will open its doors tomorrow (Saturday, December 5).

Active Performance in King’s Cliffe was created to meet a 'high demand' from residents to have a gym in the village.

Owner of the new gym, Neal Lattimore, worked with The King’s Cliffe Active Trust to launch the business after facilities already available at the site in Kingsmead went down a storm with local people.

Simon Fairhall, chairman of the King’s Cliffe Active Trust, said: “The whole project started in 2009 and it has always been run by a group of local residents.

“A farmer sold the land at a discounted rate because it benefited the community.

“We have gradually extended it with a play space, football pitches and a multi-use games area."

He added that they then secured more funds, and started talking about opening a gym at the site.

“We realised anyone wanting to go to a gym would have to go to Stamford, Peterborough or Corby," he said.

“There’s nothing wrong with that, but the journey time getting to these places and getting back again becomes a becomes a bit of a barrier.”

The project received funding from East Northamptonshire Council and Augean, which operates a landfill site near the village, to help extend the building.

As well as gym equipment, there is a range of classes, including yoga, and personal training.

Patients may also be referred to the gym from Wansford and King's Cliffe GP surgery, to help them tackle obesity, high blood pressure and other underlying health conditions.

Neal, a former head of sports science at Peterborough United, said he has wanted to set up a gym for a long time.

He researched what people wanted in terms of equipment, and what price they would be willing to pay, to ensure it would appeal to local people.

“I’m excited but also anxious because it has been such a long journey but I’m ready to get going,” he said.

The gym was due to open earlier this year but the coronavirus pandemic delayed work. It will instead open tomorrow for people to check out the facilities.

Neal said: “We had planned to open in May and then the first lockdown was in April; then to open in November and that was the second lockdown.

"It’s given us more time, which is a positive."

For information and opening times visit: www.activeperformancekingscliffe.com.